News Release

UNION, N.J. — The College of New Jersey placed all five starters in double-figures, as senior guard Derick Grant (Belle Mead, N.J.) led the way with 18 points and seven rebounds to lift the Lions past host Kean University, 81-70, in New Jersey Athletic Conference men’s basketball action on Saturday afternoon. The victory improved TCNJ to 14-6 overall, 7-4 in the NJAC, while the Cougars dropped to 11-8 overall, 5-6 in the conference.

TCNJ junior forward Scott Findlay (Long Valley, N.J.) and senior guard Kyle Burke (Maywood, N.J.) had 17 points and 16 points, respectively, as the Lions held off a late rally by the Cougars in the second half.

After TCNJ posted an 18-point advantage, 52-34, at the 16:43 mark of the second half on a trio of free throws by Grant, the Cougars went on a 30-14 run to cut the Lions’ lead to 66-64 on a pair of free throws by sophomore forward Bryan Keller (Piscataway, N.J.) with 4:59 left in the game. During the outburst, Keller contributed eight points, while junior guard Danny Del Valle (Linden, N.J.) and Coles each added six points.

TCNJ finished the game with 15-6 run, as senior forward Bobby Davison (Princeton, N.J.) and Findlay combined for nine points during the final five minutes.

The Cougars built an early 12-4 lead just 2:38 into the contest on a pair of three-pointers from senior guard Tan Kesler (Adana, Turkey) and six points from junior forward Armet Coles (Staten Island, N.Y.). TCNJ answered back with 13-1 run over the next three minutes to take a 17-13 lead and extended their lead to 10 points at intermission, 42-32, after finishing the first period with eight unanswered points.

In the opening 20 minutes of action, Burke hit three treys and led the Lions with 13 points, while Grant added 10 points in the first half. For the Cougars, Coles had 13 points and four rebounds.

Coles finished the game with a team-high 21 points and nine rebounds, while junior forward B.J. Hamby (Bridgewater, N.J.) had eight points, nine rebounds and a career-best five blocks. Kesler had eight points to move into 10th place in program history with 1,163 points, passing Tommy Williams (1987-91).

In the win, Grant moved past Ralph Brateris (1967-71) and into fourth place among the Lions’ all-time leading scorers with 1,420 career points. Davison added 12 points and a team-high 11 rebounds, while senior guard Mike Snyder (Cranford, N.J.) added 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists for TCNJ.

The Cougars return to action on Wednesday, February 2, when they host Rowan University in NJAC action at 8 p.m.