Union, N.J. (2/9/08)-Senior Lamar Wright (Galloway, N.J.) tallied 17 points for a total of exactly 1,000 career points at Kean University as the Cougars rallied in the second half to defeat Rutgers-Newark, 75-66 at Harwood Arena Saturday afternoon. Freshman Keith Williams (Jersey City, N.J.) (pictured right) had a game-high 23 points, including 13 in the second half as Kean now stands at 8-14 overall and 3-7 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). Junior Chadd Barnes (Newark, N.J.) led the Scarlet Raiders with 18 points as well as seven rebounds as Rutgers-Newark falls to 12-10 overall and 5-5 in conference action.

Trailing by 10 (56-46) with just under 10 minutes to go in the second half the Cougars rallied with an 8-0 run to pull within two as freshman Akinwande Oshodi (Florence, N.J.) recorded four points in the span. Kean responded and took the lead for good with 4:29 remaining as Wright hit a jumper to put the Cougars ahead 63-61. Williams sealed the win with a trey with 1:34 to go off an assist by junior Yasien Beatty (Jersey City, N.J.) to give KU a seven point advantage.

Kean visited the charity stripe 36 times in the game, the most of any game this season, and nailed five of six in the final forty seconds to secure the win.

The first half belonged to the Scarlet Raiders who held a 32-24 lead at the break. Rutgers-Newark led by as many as 10 in the first 20 minutes before a quick KU burst closed the gap to three on a three-pointer by Akinwande followed by a free-throw from Williams. Newark ended the half on a 6-2 run as Angel Collado (Jersey City, N.J.) hit a layup with time expiring for the eight point advantage.

Junior David Cherry (Linden, N.J.) finished the game with 16 points (all in the first half) while Collado had 13 points in the loss.

Oshodi recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Beatty (pictured left) was a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor for 10 points in the win.

Kean will travel to The College of New Jersey in NJAC action on Wednesday, February 13th at 8 p.m. in a key south-division matchup.