ATLANTA, Ga. (12/30/24) – Justin Morton finished with a career-high 40 points as the Kean University men's basketball team rallied from a 23-point deficit to defeat LaGrange College, 78-69 in their final game of the Emory University Holiday Classic on Monday.

HOW IT HAPPENED!!!

• Morton scored 11 points as the Cougars struggled to shoot the ball in the opening stanza.
• LaGrange pushed their lead to double-digits with a 21-8 run that saw the Panthers score 13 straight points.
• LaGrange opened the second half with an 11-5 run that extended their lead to the largest of the game at 54-31 with 16:06 remaining.
• The Cougars responded with a 28-6 run, behind 18 points from Morton, as Kean took their first lead of the contest at 59-58 with 9:17 left.
• After trading buckets, Kean finished with a 17-6 run over the final six minutes for a nine-point decision.
• Morton added another 11 points down the stretch.

INSIDE THE BOX

• Morton hit seven triples along with seven points from the line.
• D.J. Alicea notched 19 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals.
• Phil Brown Jr. grabbed six rebounds.
• Trey Harts notched six rebounds and four assists.

WHEN'S THE LAST TIME

• The last time a Kean player had at least 40 points - Micah Kerr finished with 42 points and 16 rebounds in a 86-64 victory over Rutgers-Camden on Jan. 26^th, 2019.
• The last time a Kean player made seven three pointers – Jared Latane knocked down seven triples in an 83-74 victory over TCNJ on Feb. 9^th, 2019.

UP NEXT

• Kean travels to Princeton for an exhibition contest on Jan. 4^th.