Danbury, Conn… In a back-and-forth battle featuring six ties and 13 lead changes, The College of New Jersey men's basketball team (7-4) dropped a non-conference game, 89-85 at Western Connecticut State University (8-2) on Monday night.

Early in the game after the Colonials took a 4-2 lead, the Lions answered with 15 consecutive points, six by Eric Murdock, Jr. (Bridgewater, NJ / Bridgewater) to open up a 13 point advantage. Murdock, Jr. finished with 13 points to go along a game-high six assists.

Following a third three-pointer from Murdock, Jr. to gave TCNJ a 22-11 lead, WCSU countered with an 11-2 run of its own to cut the lead to just two. Again the Lions were up for the call, scoring 12 of the next 15 points using a barrage from deep with Eric Klacik (Basking Ridge, NJ / Ridge) and Jordan Glover (Lawrenceville, NJ / Lawrence) each draining two triples. Klacik finished with a team-high 20 points with Glover also contributing double figures with 11.

The Colonials scored the final seven points of the first half to tie the score at 42-42 at the break.

The second half featured plenty of back and forth action, including Corey Stanford (Pittsburgh, PA / Penn Trafford) getting all 10 of his points in the final frame. Neither team was able to extend a lead of more than three points until the Lions were forced to foul with 15 seconds remaining. Up by three, WCSU drained both free throws to take their largest lead of the game at 89-84. Bobby Brackett (Lawrenceville, NJ / Lawrence) added a free throw to finish with 19 points tto go along with 14 rebounds for his double-double.

The Lions were unable to contain the offensive power of Rashard Rodriguez, who finished with a game-high 22 points. Aaron Samuel and Tre'Von Perry each added 16 points in the triumph.

The Lions out-shot the Colonials from the field 59.2% (29-49) to 50.7% (34-67), but WCSU had more opportunities thanks to a 23-9 advantage in the turnover department.

TCNJ returns to Packer Hall this Wednesday, January 4 when they host New Jersey Athletic Conference opponent William Paterson University at 8 p.m.