UNION, NJ–On Wednesday night, GMC Hoops traveled out to Kean University’s Harwood Arena to take in an NJAC match-up between the KU Cougars and the Scarlet Raiders of Rutgers-Newark.
Five players from the Greater Middlesex Conference were on the rosters from these two teams in this game. Kean had East Brunswick’s Mike Summerer and Jodrell Thompson, which started and saw a lot of action in the game. Rutgers-Newark had East Brunswick’s Mike Vick, Colonia’s Chase Barneys, and Old Bridge’s Stephen Strom.
In a hard-fought, low scoring, defensive battle, Kean jumped out to a 6-0 lead over the first three plus minutes of the contest. Rutgers-Newark responded with a 24-11 surge over the next 13:07 to take a 24-17 lead with under four minutes to go in the half.
Rutgers-Newark maintained a six point lead going into the intermission, but Kean rallied to tie the score at 43-43 on a three pointer from Keenan Williams, Jr with 1:24 to play. The Scarlet Raiders would take the lead for good with two free throws at the 57 second mark, and then a score underneath with 26.2 seconds to play.
Kean didn’t give up though as the Cougars got two free throws by Mike Summerer with 16.8 seconds left to close the gap to 47-45. After a missed free throw by Rutgers-Newark, Kean had a chance to tie, but missed a shot with time running out as the Scarlet Raiders hung on for a 47-45 win.
Thompson led Kean in defeat with 11 points while Summerer chipped in with 10 points and 9 rebounds. Summerer scored all 10 of his points in the 2nd half. Vick scored 6 points in two threes for Rutgers-Newark. Barneys also saw action for the Scarlet Raiders. Tyler Ofray led R-Newark with 14 points while Nadir Alston had a double-double of 11 points and 14 boards for the visitors. Below are game notes from the action:
First Half
16:55 left in the first half and Kean jumps out to a 6-0 lead thanks in part to a three from the left corner by Colonia’s Jodrell Thompson.
12:19 left in the first half and Rutgers-Newark closes within 8-7 on a Mike Vick trey from the left side.
8:02 left in the first half and East Brunswick’s Mike Vick hands out an assist on an R-Newark three from the left wing for a 19-11 lead.
4:18 left in the 1st half and despite a Jodrell Thompson score underneath for Kean, R-Newark leads 24-17.
3:48 to go in the first half and Kean calls time trailing 24-17. Scarlet Raiders on a 24-11 surge since trailing 6-0. Chase Barneys has also seen action in half for R-Newark.
0:00-Game has gone to the half R-Newark leading Kean, 28-22. Tre Gomez had a 3 in the closing minutes for KU.
Second Half
18:00–Kean and EB’s Mike Summerer soars for his first points of the game to close the gap to 28-24.
17:52 left in the second half and R-Newark calls time leading 28-24.
16:20 to go in 2nd half and Kean closes to 28-25 as Jodrell Thompson drew a foul on a layup attempt and made a FT.
14:17 left in 2nd half and Kean trails 33-29 after two FTs by Mike Summerer.
11:22 left in the 2nd half and Kean calls a full timeout after a score earlier by Micah Kerr draws Cougars to within 4 again at 35-31.
6:43 left in the 2nd half and Kean calls a full timeout after two FTs by Mike Summerer closes gap to 37-35.
4:50 left and Mike Vick hits a huge trey from the left side of the key for R-Newark to give the Scarlet Raiders a 40-35 lead.
3:40–Kean hanging in there as Jodrell Thompson hits a trey from the left to close the gap to 42-38.
2:10 remaining and Kean draws closer at 42-40 on a basket and the foul by Jodrell Thompson.
1:24 left in regulation and we’re tied at 43-43 as Mike Summerer gets an assist on a game tying three from the left wing by Keenan Williams, Jr.
19.8 seconds left and Kean calls time after two FTs and a score down low gives R-Newark a 47-43 lead.
16.8 seconds left and R-Newark calls time after Kean pulls within 47-45 on two FTs by Mike Summerer.
0:00–Game just ended here at Kean’s Harwood Arena with R-Newark just hanging on for a 47-45 victory after Kean misses a last second shot.