DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Andrew Kirey hit a 3-pointer with six seconds left as Kean University rallied from a 15-point, second-half deficit and defeated host Delaware Valley College, 81-78, in the season opener for both teams.

The Aggies used a 10-1 run, including five points by Jason Goldheimer over the final three minutes of the first half to take a 44-32 lead into the intermission. James Jones, who had the final two just before the buzzer, opened the second half with a trey to make it a 15-point ballgame.

However, Kean scored the next 11 points to pull to get back in the contest. It then took its first lead since six minutes were left in the first half after Jonathan Jones hit a layup for a 59-58 advantage with 9:40 remaining. The teams traded leads the rest of the way with neither squad building more than a 3-point advantage.

A drive to the basket and layup by James Jones with 2:18 on the clock gave Delaware Valley a 77-76 lead. Both teams missed changes and Jones then hit one of two free throws with 1:58 to go to up the lead to two. Fifty seconds later, Kirey hit a layup to tie the contest. The Aggies missed on their trip downcourt and Kean had the ball with 37 seconds left. The Cougars worked the shot clock down and Kirey took a pass from Mike Shaughnessy in the right corner and hit nothing but net in the closing seconds. Jones got a good look at a potential game-tying trey but it hit the rim and went out of bounds as the buzzer sounded.

Jones was dominant inside for Kean as he finished with 27 points and 16 rebounds. Kirey had three treys and 15 points while Shaughnessy handed out 10 assists.

Jones tallied 23 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals for Delaware Valley. Goldheimer ended the evening with 12 points while freshman Phil Jackson added 11 points. Jeremy Beckett contributed six points, seven rebounds and four blocks in the loss.