Box Score

 Ewing, NJ … Ignited by its best offensive performance of the season, The College of New Jersey men's basketball team defeated Kean University 85-73 on Saturday afternoon in Packer Hall.
 
The Lions (5-12, 3-8 NJAC) shot 60 percent from the field and connected on a season-high ten three-pointers en route to their highest point total of the season. The win was significant for TCNJ as they captured their third New Jersey Athletic Conference victory and remain in the playoff hunt. The Cougars (6-11), who entered the contest in sixth place in the NJAC standings, dropped to 5-6 in the conference with two of those losses coming to the Lions.
 
The top six teams in the standings qualify for the NJAC post-season tournament.
 
Junior Alex Fox (Washington, NJ/Westwood), junior Skyelar Ettin (Princeton, NJ/Princeton), and junior Matthew Rista (Point Pleasant, NJ/St. Anthony's) accounted for 64 of TCNJ's 85 points as Ettin led all scorer with 25. Fox was near perfect from the floor, making good on seven-of-eight shots and five-of-six free throws. Rista matched his career-high with 19 points and knocked down four, three-point field goals.
 
Kean also shot well, hitting 47 percent of its shots and converting all 15 free throws awarded. Junior Michael Burton (Irvington, NJ/South Plainfield) tallied a team-high 23 points, while junior Kyle Latorre (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ/Hasbrouck Heights) added 15 points. Freshman Frank Nock (Bridgeton, NJ/Bridgeton) also finished in double figures with 11 points.
 
To say TCNJ shooters came out hot would be an understatement. In the opening 11 minutes, they found the bottom of the net on 12 of their first 16 shot attempts. Five of those field goals came from long distance, including four by Fox.
 
Trailing 9-6 in the early in the period, the Lions played flawless basketball and went on a 22-2 run to open up a 30-14 advantage. Fox scored 14 points in just over four minutes of play to lead TCNJ's charge.
 
Kean maintained its composure and steadily chipped away at the deficit. Their performance at the charity stripe was instrumental as they were a perfect 10-for-10 from the line in the first half. Burton hit four free throws and finished the half with 15 points. Ryan Duffy (Phillipsburg, NJ/Phillipsburg) banked in a shot underneath in the final seconds of the period to close the gap to 40-33 at the half.
 
 
While Kean came out ablaze in the second half, TCNJ refused to cool off as Rista and Ettin continued to pour on the offense. After a dunk by Duffy provided momentum for Kean, Rista stuck a pair of 3-pointers. The Cougars managed to pull within eight points with 2:32 remaining, but four straight free throws by sophomore Jayson Johnson (Bordentown, NJ/Life Center Academy) and a layup by sophomore Emmanuel Matlock (Trenton, NJ/Solebury) secured the home win for the Lions.
The Lions resume conference play this Wednesday when they visit Richard Stockton College for an 8 p.m. tipoff. They return home next Saturday, January 26 for a match-up with Ramapo College. Kean will host College of Staten Island next Monday at noon.