Reading, PA… The College of New Jersey men's basketball team saw their nine game winning streak snapped in the finals of the Crowne Plaza Holiday Tournament falling 69-64 to Albright College. TCNJ is now 9-2 on the season, while Albright improved to 10-1.
 
TCNJ fell behind early for the second straight game, trailing 12-7 before back-to-back threes from Jordan Glover (Trenton, NJ/Lawrence) and Ryan Jensen (Brielle, NJ/Manasquan) gave TCNJ its first lead of the contest.
 
With the Lions holding an 18-16 advantage, Albright rattled off seven straight bracketing a pair of lay-ups around a triple from DeLascio Dancy. A later three by DeJuan Smith gave the Lions the largest lead of the half at 33-24.
 
Albright held a 38-30 halftime lead.
 
TCNJ scored five straight to open the second stanza cutting the lead to three on a lay-up by Niall Carpenter (Westampton, NJ/Westampton). Carpenter finished with 13 points and was named to the All-Tournament team along with backcourt mate Eric Murdock, Jr. (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater).
 
Albright extended their advantage as high as ten at 61-51 on a pair of free throws by Jared Rappoprt.
 
TCNJ would get as close as four in the closing minute as Jensen drained a three to reach double figures off an assist from Murdock, Jr., but Albright drained one of two from the line for the final score. Murdock, Jr. led all players with 19 points and six assists.
 
TCNJ shot 24.2% from behind the arc. The only other time TCNJ fell below 30% behind the arc this season was its only other loss in the season opener against Utica.
 
Brandon Lindsey scored 15 points to lead five Abright players in double figures.
 
TCNJ will return to competition in the new year when NJAC play resumes with a trip to William Paterson University on January 3.