NEWARK, N.J. (12/2/23) – Brandon Upshaw finished with 17 points, four assists and four steals as clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch lifted the Kean University men's basketball team (3-3, 2-1 NJAC) to a 59-53 victory over Rutgers-Newark (4-4, 1-2) at the Golden Dome on Saturday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED!

• Kean and Newark were in an absolute slugfest all evening long.
• The back and forth affair had nine ties and 14 lead changes.
• The first half saw neither side hold larger than a four-point advantage.
• Tyler Spencer knocked in two free-throws with 13 seconds remaining, which put the Cougars in front by two at the break.
• The second half was more of the same as neither side held larger than a four-point advantage for most of the second stanza.  
• Upshaw proved to be key down the stretch, going 5-for-7 from the line along with an assist and a steal over the final 3:30.
• Trey Harts was also clutch from the line as the junior connected on three free throws to push the Cougars two-point lead to five with 1:15 remaining.
• The Cougars finished on a 11-4 run and went 9-for-11 from the charity stripe.

INSIDE THE BOX

• Mario Gunn totaled nine points and two blocks.
• Phil Brown Jr. collected 10 boards and six points.
• Harts finished with seven points and five rebounds

UP NEXT

• Kean hosts TCNJ on Wednesday.