Kean basketball falls RU-Camden; gets first win of the season
By: Joel Joly | Published Dec. 18, 2015
The men’s basketball team won a competitive battle against Rutgers-Camden, by a score 86-80. The cougars get their first win of the season, after starting off with a 0-6 record.
The crowd was on their feet, cheering and applauding in the Harwood Arena back on December 5. The Cougars are relieved to end their six-game losing streak.
Senior guard Tommy Soulias scored a team game high of 25 points with an impressive three from the midcourt logo. Junior Guard Kevin Grek, and sophomore guard Jerry Crismond, both chipped in with 16 points to earn the team victory.
Coach Robert Kurzinsky was pleased with Tommy performance.
“I mean he’s our leader, he’s a 40 percent career three point shooter,” Kurzinsky said. “He’s a first team all NJAC guy, He’s got a bull’s eye on him every night out there. He’s our best player.”
The Cougars outplayed the Raptors 44-37 in the first half. Kean came out sizzling, starting the game off with a 6-0 run thanks to Pujol’s two steals.
Freshman Diego Pujols scored 13 points in the game. Pujols played with intensity, leading the team in the in first half with 11 points and two steals. Tommy was in double digits with 10 points.
The Cougars did trail in the second half in the game due to the Raptors hot man Jonathan Baker Jernigan 25 point game, shooting 7-14 from three.
Kean managed to come back with a 12-2 run with a lay-up from Soulias, giving Kean a second half lead, 70-69. With a minute less to go Kevin Grek hit a big three pointer to extend to a four point lead. The Scarlet Raptors could not find a way to come back.
“We played team defense,” Pujols said. “We pointed and talked, and when things were going bad, we stuck together.”
Kean guard Jodrell Thompson was satisfied with their first win.
“It feels real good to win the first game of the season because the monkey is off your back,” Thompson said. “Now we’re finally one and something instead of zero and something.”