KEAN OUTLASTS NJCU, 70-67; GOTHIC KNIGHTS DROP ANOTHER CLOSE ONE, SUFFER FOURTH DEFEAT BY FOUR OR FEWER POINTS

JERSEY CITY, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Kean University claimed an 11-point second half lead and held off a late surge by New Jersey City University in a tightly-contested New Jersey Athletic Conference match-up, as the Cougars edged NJCU, 70-67, on "Coach Charlie Brown Court" at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on Saturday afternoon.

NJCU (1-4, 0-2 NJAC) drops its third consecutive game and its four losses this year have been by a combined 13 points, and none by more than four points. Kean improves to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the NJAC. In a series that dates to 1931-32, NJCU has still won eight of the last 10 contests and leads by a 90-33 margin (known results only).

NJCU whittled the lead to one in the final moments, but Kean, which converted 6-of-8 from the line in the final 81 seconds, held on when the Knights missed a three on their final shot. NJCU struggled from three-point range, shooting just 3-of-18 (.167).

NJAC Player of the Year candidate and two-time All-NJAC selection Jonathan Jones (Linden, NJ/Linden) notched his sixth straight double-double to open the season with 25 points and 17 rebounds (13 defensive) in 34 minutes. He shot 7-of-13 from the field and 11-of-16 from the free throw stripe. It was his 18^th consecutive double-double dating to the 2009-10 campaign. Amazingly, the 25 points were his second lowest output this season.

In all, three players scored in double figures for Kean. Junior guard Ali Mix (East Orange, NJ/East Orange) had 20 points off the bench, shooting 7-of-14 from the field and 2-of-4 from three-point distance. Freshman guard Michael Burton (Irvington, NJ/South Plainfield) shot 8-of-10 from the line and finished with 12 points. Jones, Mix and Burton combined for 57 of Kean's 70 points and only three other players scored. Sophomore guard Mike Shaughnessy (Linwood, NJ/Mainland Regional) collected seven rebounds and five assists.

NJCU senior guard JAMES LIVINGSTON (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Central) netted a team-high 16 points in 17 minutes off the bench, while picking off six steals. He shot 8-of-8 from the line and 4-of-9 from the field and added two blocks.

Junior point guard KEITH WILLIAMS (Jersey City, NJ/Create Charter), in his first game against the Cougars since transferring from Kean to NJCU, finished with 13 points and four steals in 25 minutes, shooting 4-of-9 from the field and 2-6 from long range. Sophomore guard ASHMERE WILSON (East Orange, NJ/Weequahic) contributed a career-best 10 points in 11 minutes.

Also for NJCU, sophomore forward WALIK ALBRIGHT (Jersey City, NJ/Create Charter) had nine points. Senior shooting guard DA'SHON BARRINO (East Orange, NJ/Malcolm X. Shabazz) finished with five assists.

NJCU shot 20-of-25 from the line—an 80.0 percent rate. Kean made 29-of-42 from the line (.690) and each school shot a tad over 36 percent from the field, but the Cougars had 13 offensive rebounds and managed a 10-0 advantage in second chance scoring.

Each team had a lead in the first half and the Cougars led 31-29 at the half after maintaining a one or two possession margin throughout the period.

In the second half, the Cougars, leading 38-34 with 16:33 on the clock, scored the next seven points for their largest lead of the day—an 11-point, 45-34 advantage. Freshman guard Andrew Kirey (Millville, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) hit a three (16:09) and freshman guard J.J. Hladik (Bayonne, NJ/St. Peter's Prep) hit two free throws following an intention foul and added a jumper at 13:02. Livingston snapped a 5:03 scoreless drought with a steal and fast break basket.

The Cougars continued to maintain a lead between six and nine points until late in the half. Wilson cut it to four (55-51) with a foul shot moments after he also converted a three-point play. After a Kean three-point play by Jones, Wilson hit a jumper (4:02) and junior center JOSH HOSANG (Hackensack, NJ/Palm Beach Central (Fla.)) scored two of his seven points with 2:53 remaining and NJCU trailed 59-55.

When Livingston was fouled and hit both free throws with 2:25 left and the Knights clawed within two. Livingston then made a key steal at half court from Mix but the Knights could not tie it, missing three field goals on the same possession.

With 1:21 left Burton hit two foul shots; Livingston sank two of his own with 1:09 to play as Kean led 61-59. Mix converted a layup off a Shaughnessy feed with 59 seconds showing before Livingston scored his sixth straight point and NJCU once again trailed by two, 63-61. Burton hit one of two from the line and Livingston missed a three-point shot that could have tied it. With 28.2 left Burton buried two more foul shots and Kean was up 66-61.

NJCU still had some fight left. Williams fed junior center DASHAWN EAGLE (Newark, NJ/Weequahic) for a layup with 22.6 left and Jones missed the front end of two foul shots, before making the second. With 10.0 remaining, sophomore guard NAADIR WILLIAMS (Newark, NJ/Weequahic) cut the margin to 67-65 when he drove to the left post for a bucket but missed a subsequent free throw. Shaughnessy made one foul shot with 7.6 left for Kean, but missed the second. On a scramble for the rebound, Albright was fouled and with 6.8 seconds, calming sank two from the line as the deficit stood at one, 68-67. But Kirey made both his free throws with 5.4 to go and a Keith Williams three-pointer from the left sideline did not fall as time expired.

NJCU will host Lehman College on Monday, December 6 at 8 p.m. in a non-conference contest. Kean visits Rowan University in a conference game on December 8 at 7 p.m.

—www.njcugothicknights.com—