EWING, N.J. – The College of New Jersey men's basketball team won its fifth-consecutive game to open the season on Friday night. The Lions edged Kean, 74-64, to match the best start for the program since 2000-01 season. Dating back to last season, TCNJ has won 14 out of its last 15 games.

With 8:10 left to play in the game Kean took a 57-55 lead with a three-pointer. The rest of the way was all Lions however. TCNJ closed out with a 19-7 stretch to earn the fifth-straight win.

Anthony DiCaro knocked down a three-pointer off of a P.J. Ringel assist to push TCNJ ahead 59-57. After the Lions got a defensive stop, Ringel set up a triple from Danny Bodine. The junior forward's three-pointer gave the Lions a five-point lead with 5:24 to play.

The pivotal stretch run was fueled by TCNJ's strong defense. The Cougars did not score a single point from the 8:10 mark to the 1:27 mark.

Travis Jocelyn scored on a put back to give TCNJ a 65-57 lead with two minutes to play. On the next Kean possession, Jocelyn came up with a steal. He took it all the way, made the basket, and was fouled for the old-fashioned three-point play. He made the free throw to give the Lions a 68-57 lead with 1:36 to go.

Jocelyn scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds along with three steals. Bodine had a big night with 16 points, nine rebounds, and seven blocked shots. The junior forward threw down a pair of explosive dunks as well.

Ringel posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. The senior point guard also dished out eight assists. DiCaro scored 13 points and tallied five assists, while Jason Larranaga totaled nine points and five boards.

The Lions' defense forced 16 Kean turnovers which turned into 19 points. TCNJ also had a large 20-0 advantage in fast-break points and a 38-20 lead in points in the paint.

The Lions and Cougars will complete the home-and-home series tomorrow at Kean.