Kean Men’s Basketball Shows Resilience at Emory Holiday Classic 

By: David Macaulay-Smith I Published Jan 30, 2025.

The Kean University men’s basketball team competed in the Emory Holiday Classic in Atlanta, Georgia, on December 29 and 30. The tournament, held at the Woodruff PE Center, showcased some of the top Division III talent in the country, giving the Cougars an opportunity to test their skills against elite competition. 

The Cougars faced a tough start against the nation’s top-ranked team, Emory College. Despite a valiant effort, Kean fell 93-66. Standout performances showcased D.J. Alicea, who scored 29 points, Adam Silas with 10 points, and Trey Harts contributing nine points and four rebounds.

Reflecting on the game, Alicea acknowledged the challenge of facing the top team in the country. 

“They were the number one team in the country, so we were expecting a challenge. There wasn’t much we could do besides play hard and trust our stuff. But at the end of the day, it wasn’t enough. So we just took that on the chin and did better in the next game,” Alicea said. 

The Cougars rebounded in their matchup against LaGrange College, securing a 78-69 victory. Justin Morton delivered a career-high 40 points, including seven three-pointers, while Alicea contributed an all-around performance with 19 points, five rebounds, five assists, and five steals. Morton’s 40-point outing marked the first time a Kean player had scored 40+ points in a game since Micah Kerr scored 42 in 2019, while his seven three-pointers matched the same milestone last achieved by Jarad Latane in 2019.

“I think it was mostly about my confidence,” Morton said about his bounce-back performance.

 “In the first game, I wasn’t making shots early on, which brought my confidence down. For the second game, I focused on staying steady, not getting too high on the highs or too low on the lows. When I maintain that balance, I usually play better,” said Morton. 

Alicea also emphasized the importance of preparation and effort. 

“I just try to take every game, use it as a lesson, watch the film, learn from whatever mistakes I made in the first game, and try not to make them in the second game. A lot of basketball is really just energy and effort. I was just trying to do whatever I could, whatever it takes for my team to get a win,” said Alicea. 

Both players highlighted how their hard work and leadership paid off during the LaGrange victory. 

“All the work we put in together over the summer is coming to fruition…it’s showing in our performances, and it means a lot. At the end of the day, we just have to keep working and playing together,” said Alicea 

Morton echoed the sentiment and shared his thoughts.

 “We spent almost every day together over the summer working out, so it’s great to see that the hard work is paying off. We both feel like we’re big parts of the team, and we know that we need to perform in games for the team to do well. We appreciate our teammates supporting us, and we’ll always be there for them when they have big games, just like they are for us,” Morton said. 

With their experience at the Emory Holiday Classic and standout performances from their key players, the Cougars look to build on their momentum as they head into the second half of the season.

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