Union, N.J. (12/17/11) – Elms College used a 10-2 run late in the final minutes of action to pull past the Kean University men's basketball team, 62-56, Saturday afternoon in non-conference action.

Sophomore Michael Burton led all players with 16 points as Kean fell to 2-7 this season.  Junior Andre French recorded a team-high 15 points for the Blazers who improve to 4-4.

The first half was all about the perimeter game as the teams combined for 10 three-pointers.  Kean was the most efficient shooting 63% from behind the arc, while Elms doubled the attempts (5-of-16) for 31%.  On paper the teams were very similar in the first 20 minutes with almost identical numbers in points, rebounds, fouls and turnovers with neither team leading by more than four.

Sophomore Kyle Latorre led the Cougars with six points, four rebounds and two blocks while French recorded eight points for Elms.

The see-saw affair continued in the second half as the two teams combined for four ties and eight lead changes in the final 20 minutes, with the largest margin of six points coming in the final score.  With 4:04 remaining in the contest the Cougars broke the ninth tie of the matchup with a Burton jumper to go ahead, 54-52.  But the Blazers capitalized in the final minutes as a trey by rookie Charles Bason gave Elms the lead for good with 3:46 to go.  Elms added two buckets to for a 59-54 advantage, but Kean fought back with another jumper from Burton to put the score at 59-56.  The Blazers sealed the win with three free throws from French down the stretch.

Latorre finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds while senior Andrew Kirey added 15 points, including four treys. 

Bason ended the day with 14 points and four three-pointers while teammates Daniel Gonzalez and Jamal Hulum finished in double-digits with 14 and 10 respectively.

The Cougars return to action as they travel to DeSales University on Tuesday evening.