UNION, N.J. (1/7/26) – Four Cougars finished in double-figures as the Kean University men's basketball team opened 2026 with a 73-62 victory over William Paterson University on Wednesday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED!!!

• The Cougars went 0-4 to start and fell behind 10-1 over the first three minutes.
• Kean climbed out of the early hole with a 27-9 run that gave the Cougars a 27-17 lead with 4:25 remaining.
• Malachi Jeffers-Viera and Daniel Dextraze combined for 15 points during the run.
• The Cougars would hold that lead into the locker room at the break.
• Kean and William Paterson traded buckets in the second half as the Pioneers were able to slice the advantage down to four.
• The Cougars closed on a 12-6 run which extended the lead back to double-figures before the final buzzer.
• Braelen Crump notched six points during the run.   

INSIDE THE BOX

• Jeffers-Viera finished with 22 points and five rebounds.
• Crump totaled 16 points.
• Dextraze recorded 13 points and nine rebounds.
• Christian Garcia posted 10 points and 13 rebounds.

UP NEXT

• Kean travels to Rutgers-Camden on Saturday.