UNION, NJ—On Wednesday night, GMC Hoops made a change to its college hoops schedule, and traveled up to Kean University and Harwood Arena to see the Cougars take on the Roadrunners of Ramapo College in an early season New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) clash. Ramapo led by 15 on a couple of occasions including a 55-40 advantage with just over 14 minutes to play, but both times including the second half, Kean battled back. Over nearly a ten and a half minute span, the Cougars put together a 26-10 surge capped by a three pointer by Easton, Pennsylvania standout, Lincoln Polley for a 66-65 lead with 3:43 remaining. Ramapo would pull the game out though by going 7 of 8 from the line down the stretch to highlight a 7-2 spurt to close the contest for a 72-68 victory.
Harlem’s Ve’Shawn Polite led all scorers with 19 points for Ramapo. Chris Moseley added 16 points and Frank Nock chipped in with 14 points. Polley led four different players in double figurers for Kean with 14 points while former Spotswood standout, Tom Soulias came off the bench and overcame to first half offensive fouls to collect 9 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, and a steal. North Brunswick’s Manny Omowole contributed with 5 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal before fouling out with a little over a minute left. Former St. Joseph’s standout, Jimbo Long did a fine job orchestrating the Ramapo offense with 7 points, 2 assists, a steal, and a rebound. Below are game notes from the action:
First Half
20:00—Game about to start. Former St. Joseph’s standout, Jimbo Long gets the start for Ramapo. North Brunswick’s Emmanuel Omowole starting for Kean.
18:11 left in the first half and Kean calls time after a 4-0 start by Ramapo.
12:00—Ramapo draws charge on Kean’s Tommy Soulias
11:23 left in first half and Ramapo leads 27-13 after three by Paterson Catholic’s Jermaine Peart from the left wing.
11:00—Kean pulls within a dozen at 27-15 on a drive for layup by Soulias.
10:31 to go in first half and Kean calls time after layup by Ramapo makes it 29-15.
9:00—Ramapo draws second charge on Soulias
7:59 left in the opening half and Ramapo calls time shortly after Kean’s J.J. Hladik hits a three from just to the right of the top of the key to close gap to 31-20. Kean on a 5-2 run.
2:12 left in first half and Kean trails 39-26 after a Jack Welti layin of a dish by Soulias. Cougar basket ends an 8-4 run by Ramapo.
0:00–First half has just ended with Ramapo leading 40-33 after a 9-1 run by Kean. Ramapo led the entire half.
Second Half
17:04 left in game and Ramapo leads 46-37 after a three pointer by Jimbo Long from the right wing. Roadrunners open the half with a 6-4 run.
15:20 left and Ramapo leads 50-40 after a one handed dunk by Ve’Shawn Polite.
13:36 left and Kean calls timeout after an off-balance bucket by Tom Soulias to end 9-3 run by Ramapo. Roadrunners still lead 56-42.
8:54 left in game and Kean calls time after a three pointer by J.J. Hladik pulls Cougars to within 61-53.
7:11 left and Kean calls timeout with Ramapo leading 63-55 after a baseline jumper from right side by Polley off kickout by Omowole.
4:55 left and Ramapo calls time after basket by Tom Soulias as he’s fouled to pull Kean to within 65-60. After timeout, Soulias makes the bonus free throw for a 65-61 Ramapo lead.
3:30 left and Ramapo calls time after Kean takes first lead of game at 66-65 on three by Polley off kickout by Soulias.
1:20 left and Kean’s Manny Omowole fouls out with 5 pts. Ramapo leads 69-66.
9.4 secs left and Ramapo calls timeout after Kean loses ball out of bounds underneath. Roadrunners lead 70-68.
6.3 secs left and Kean calls a full timeout and Ramapo leading 71-68 after made ft by Christopher Moseley.
0:00–Game ends with Ramapo winning 72-68. Kean trailed by 15 points twice in the game including 55-40 in the second half, but put together a 26-10 rally to take its only lead of the game. Ramapo would come away with the win thanks to a 7-2 spurt to finish the game. Jimbo Long had 7 pts for Ramapo, which improved to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in NJAC. Kean falls to 0-5 overall and 0-3 in the NJAC.