Box Score

Ewing, NJ (November 18, 2015) - The Lions (2-1) opened up at home with an 83-82 victory in overtime over Western Connecticut State.

TCNJ started the game hot, going on a 12-4 run. Western Connecticut State answered with a run of their own, knotting the game up at 14-14 with 10:50 to play in the first half. The first half remained a back and forth affair as the Colonials took a 35-34 lead into halftime.

The Lions again started the half on a run taking a 7 point lead on a three pointer by Junior Nick Alaimo '17. Western Connecticut State didn't go away easily, battling back to take a 55-54 lead with 10:12 left to play in the second half. Both teams traded buckets for the rest of the second half until the Lions trailed by 5 with 1:52 remaining in the contest. A pair of free throws by Sophomore Elias Bermudez '18 at the 1:30 mark help cut the gap to three points. On the next possession Sophomore Eric Murdock '18 made a tremendous play, forcing a jump ball with the possession arrow going to the Lions. Down three, Murdock made a jump shot to cut the lead to 1, 74- 73. After Western Connecticut State went 1-2 from the charity stripe, the Lions regained possession down 2 with 13 seconds remaining in the game. Murdock drove to the rim and got fouled, connecting on two huge free throws to force the game into overtime.

Overtime went back and forth with TCNJ trailing 82-81 with 25 second left in the game. On the ensuing possession, Murdock found a streaking Bermudez with a beautiful one-handed bounce pass to give TCNJ the lead 83-82 with 14 seconds left. The Lions came together and got one final stop, ending the game on top, 83-82.

TCNJ had 4 players in double-figures. Bermudez finished with a team high 20 points adding 7 rebounds. Junior Captain Eric Klacik '17, finished with a season high 19 points, shooting a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line. Murdock filled up the stat sheet, scoring 16 points to go along with 7 assists and 5 rebounds. Freshman Jordan Glover '19, added his second double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds. The Lions shot a combined 27-30 from the free throw line. The score was tied 8 times with 7 lead changes throughout the game and neither team leading by more than 8 points at any given time.

The Lions open up conference play this Saturday, November 21^st on the road against Montclair State at 1PM.