EWING, N.J. – The TCNJ men's basketball team was defeated by Kean University on Saturday afternoon by a final score of 83-74.

The Lions were trailing 19-9 with nine minutes to go in the first half, yet used a 15-4 run to take the lead. Randall Walko net two straight buckets for the Lions, then Jordan Glover scored on a pair of lay-ups to pull TCNJ within three. Walko hit a jumper and was fouled, and converted on the old fashioned three point play. On the ensuing trip down the floor, Walko would then hit a conventional three-pointer to put TCNJ ahead 24-23.

With just over a minute to play in the half, P.J. Ringel came up with a steal on the defensive end and took it all the way for the fast break lay-up to make it 28-26. Walko then drove to the hole and threw down a thunderous dunk, and was fouled. He would hit the free throw to make it a 31-29 lead, in which TCNJ would take into halftime.

The second half was a back-and-forth battle, as the game was tied on eight different occasions. Kean hit a three-pointer to go up by 52-49 with 10:28 to play. Ringel scored on a lay-up, then on the next Lion possession Walko struck from beyond the arc to make it a 54-52 ballgame.

A fast break jumper from Niall Carpenter would make it a 60-58 ballgame with 7:42 to play. Joe Montano then dialed one up from long distance to tie the game up 63-63 with 6:34 to go.

TCNJ would go out in front 65-64 by way of a Travis Jocelyn bucket, yet the Cougars were able to control the final minutes. Jared Latane of Kean was locked in, as he hit two three-pointers to put Kean on top 72-65 with under two minutes to play. The Cougars were able to make their free throws and hold onto the win.

Walko led the offensive charge once again for TCNJ, as he scored 24 points and added seven rebounds. Ringel totaled 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor, and grabbed six rebounds. Montano spread the ball around effectively, as he racked up seven assists on the afternoon.

Prior to the game, the Lions held senior day to honor the senior class of Montano, Glover, and Liam Byrne for their contributions to the program the last four seasons.

Next up for TCNJ is the regular season finale against William Paterson at home on Feb. 13.