Box Score 

Ewing, NJ… Kean University escaped with a 72-69 win over The College of New Jersey in men’s basketball on Wednesday night in Packer Hall. Up 41-22 at the half, the Cougars managed to hold on despite a late game rally by TCNJ. Kean is now 5-0 on the season and 2-0 in the NJAC, while TCNJ is now 4-4 overall and 1-1 in the league.

Kean’s senior forward Brian Keller (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway) netted a game-high 21 points for the Cougars, hitting 8 of 14 shots from the floor as the Cougars shot 50.0% from the floor in the second half (13-26).

Senior guard Bryan Miller (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Central) picked up 15 points, while junior guard Anthony Virgil (Montclair, NJ/Montclair) picked up 12 points off the bench.

Four of TCNJ’s five starters finished in double digit scoring on the night as senior guard Brian Halligan (Delran, NJ/Delran) added a season-high 18 points and his second straight double-double after hauling in 10 rebounds. Junior guard Corey Gilmore (South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) also finished with 14 points after hitting 9-of-12 from the free throw line as TCNJ used sharp shooting, hitting 19-of-23 from the line in the second half (82.6%). Junior forward Mark Aziz (Hackettstown, NJ/West Morris) picked up 12 points and junior forward Jeff Warner (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) added 11 points for the Lions.

            As time expired, Halligan’s three-point shot that would have sent the game to overtime banged off the rim and was not good, preserving the Cougar’s perfect season.