The Ramapo men’s basketball team faced two tough losses this week as the Kean University men’s basketball team defeated Ramapo in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) action, 80-56 on Wednesday, Nov. 30 and the Stockton University men’s basketball team defeated Ramapo in another NJAC match-up Saturday, Dec. 3, 76-72. The Roadrunners now stand at 4-3 overall and 1-2 in the conference.
The undefeated Kean Cougars snapped the Roadrunners’ four-game win streak. The Roadrunners were able to stay in it throughout the first half, giving Kean a run for their money, but lost their momentum after halftime.
The Roadrunners biggest lead in the game came in the first half when they led, 21-16, with under eight minutes left in the half. Ramapo’s Tyrell Murchison converted an and-one play off a dish from Will Brown before making his free throw for the five-point lead.
However a 10-0 run late in the first half gave the Cougars a 26-21 lead with just over four minutes of action left. Back-to-back jumpers from Brown and Peter Gorman cut the Kean lead to just one before the Cougars went on a mini 6-3 run to take a 32-28 lead. At the end of the half, Justin Bladen sank a three-pointer to cut the lead to one as Kean went into the locker room at halftime with a one-point lead, 32-31.
In the second half, the game started to slip away from the Roadrunners. Kean stretched their lead to 12 in the first eight minutes of action, 52-37, while their biggest lead of the game came with less than two minutes left on the clock.
A three-pointer from Shane Hailey gave the Cougars a 25-point lead, 78-53. Jon Delgado sank a three-pointer for the Roadrunners before Seth Edwards scored the final points of the game as Kean posted the 80-56 road win.
The Roadrunners were led by Myers who posted 14 points, three rebounds and two steals while Brown recorded 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Shane Rooney added 10 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals while Gorman contributed with seven points.
As for the match-up against Stockton, the game remained close the entire time.
The Roadrunners tied the game with three minutes left in the first half at 29, after going on a seven-point run behind points from Anthony Corbo and Myers. The two teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half and headed to the locker room tied at 33.
Ramapo held the largest lead of the game with 12 minutes to go in the second half behind an and-one play from Rooney, 50-42. The Ospreys then went on a 9-0 run of play to regain the lead.
A three-point shot from Corbo tied the game at 66 with just over four minutes left to play. The Ospreys put themselves back on top shortly after. Stockton would hold on to the lead and defeat the Roadrunners 76-72.
It was a team effort on the day as all five starters for the Roadrunners scored in double digits. They were led by Corbo who had a career-high 20 points while he added nine rebounds and two steals. Myers posted 13 points while Gorman collected 11 points and a team-high five assists. Rooney added 11 points and seven rebounds while Bladen contributed with 10 points and two steals.
The Roadrunners return to action Saturday, Dec. 10 when they travel to Rowan University for an 1 p.m. NJAC conference match-up.
twaschek@ramapo.edu
Photo courtesy of RCNJ Athletics.
