Box Score


Madison, NJ … The College of New Jersey men's basketball team saw its three-game winning streak closed out as they dropped an 85-71 decision at FDU-Florham on Monday night.

The Lions (4-7) received standout efforts from sophomore Bobby Brackett (Lawrence, NJ/Lawrence) and junior Alex Fox (Washington, NJ/Westwood), but it was not enough to overcome the hot shooting of the host Devils (5-6). FDU knocked down 30-of-55 shots, including 11-of-20 from three-point range to secure their fifth win of the season.

Brackett led all scorers with 24 points and collected 16 rebounds for his 10^th double-double of the season. Fox racked up 16 points, hitting 4-of-7 three pointers in the game.

The Devils boasted three players who scored over 20 points as senior Kevin Furlong (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) netted a team-high 22 points and dished out five assists. Seniors Trevor Sykes (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's Boys) and John Flete (Flemington, NJ) finished with 21 points as Sykes matched Furlong (and Fox) with four, 3-point field goals.

The Devils set the tone in the first half, shooting better than 50 percent from the field in the opening periodto build a 39-32 lead at the break. Senior Will Green (Cranford, NJ/Crandord), Sykes, and Flete were a combined 11-of-19 shooting to lead the charge.

The FDU lead climbed to 12 points with 9:37 remaining in the first half Furlong hit a jumper. But Fox drained back-to-back 3-pointers followed by a layup to make it a 25-21 game.

Fox finished the half eight points on 3-of-4 shooting, but the Lions converted just 13-of-35 shot attempts in the opening 20 minutes.

FDU looked to pull away in the opening minutes of the second half, but Brackett stood in the way. He scored the first 12 points of the half for the Lions, but despite his efforts, the Devils extended their lead to 57-46 with 12:05 remaining in the game. The Lions showed some bite, however, as junior Skyelar Ettin (Princeton, NJ/Princeton) was fouled while dropping in a layup and converted the free throw. Junior Emmanuel Matlock (Trenton, NJ/Solebury) then banked in a shot before Fox connected twice from downtown off feeds from Matlock to draw within two points at 59-57.

But a 13-4 run would kick the FDU lead back to double digits after a Furlong hit a 3-pointer with 4:30 left on the clock. The Lions battled, but could not wrestle the contest away from the Devils.

Matlock finished with eight points, while, junior Jayson Johnson (Bordentown, NJ/Life Center Academy) and freshman Eric Klacik (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge) added six points.

TCNJ returns to New Jersey Athletic Conference competition on Wednesday night when they visit Rowan University. They will play the opening game of the doubleheader at 6 p.m.