SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (11/19/23) – Griffin Barker posted a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds as the Kean University men's basketball team second half rally came up short to Western New England University, 75-68 in the Hampton Inn Holiday Classic Championship game on Sunday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED!

• Barker and Brandon Upshaw combined for 14 points as the Cougars and Golden Bears traded buckets over the first nine minutes but trailed 21-20 with just over eight minutes to play.
• WNE pushed their lead to double-digits with an 11-4 run behind four points from Gavin Greene.
• Despite an even final five minutes, WNE held a 37-29 advantage at the break.
• The Golden Bears built upon their halftime lead with a 22-11 run that gave WNE their largest lead of the game at 58-40 with 13:02 remaining.
• The Cougars roared back with a 23-5 run to take their first lead of the second half at 63-61 with 5:21 remaining.
• Barker and JD Daniels combined for 16 points during the run.
• WNE closed out the contest with a 13-6 run that included the Golden Bears shooting 7-for-8 from the line.

INSIDE THE BOX

• Daniels totaled 17 points.
• Upshaw and Ethan Stith both tallied seven points apiece.
• Kean shot 41.3% from the floor, 10.0% from downtown and 73.7% from the floor.
• The Cougars dominated the offensive glass (14-5).
• WNE went 12-for-23 (52.2%) from behind the arc.

All-TOURNAMENT TEAM

• Daniels and Barker were named to the All-Tournament Team.

UP NEXT

• Kean opens NJAC play at William Paterson on Tuesday.