The TCNJ men’s basketball team secured an 81-77 victory over Kean University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Saturday afternoon in Union, N.J. The win was powered by senior players Nick Koch, Matthew Solomon, and Jonathan Okocha.
Nick Koch led all scorers with 25 points and contributed seven assists. Matthew Solomon added a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds, along with six assists. Jonathan Okocha provided support with 17 points as the Lions improved their record to 13-5 overall and 8-3 in conference play.
After a close first half, TCNJ took the lead for good at 47-45 following a three-point play by Koch early in the second half. The Cougars narrowed the gap several times but could not overtake the Lions. TCNJ’s largest lead came after Okocha made three free throws, putting them ahead by eleven points midway through the second half.
Kean closed to within three points late in the game, but Koch responded with a jump shot as the shot clock expired to secure the win for TCNJ.
According to game statistics, TCNJ shot 47 percent from the field and committed only five turnovers compared to Kean’s thirteen. This resulted in a significant advantage in points off turnovers for TCNJ.
Koch’s performance moved him into third place on TCNJ’s all-time scoring list with 1,567 career points. Solomon joined two other players as one of only three in program history to collect more than 900 career rebounds and recorded his thirty-fifth career double-double. Okocha now ranks fifteenth all-time at TCNJ for career three-pointers made.
Malachi Jeffers-Viera led Kean with 21 points, while Phil Brown Jr., DeAundre Clark, and Daniel Dextraze also scored in double figures for the Cougars.
TCNJ will host Stockton next Wednesday night in another NJAC matchup; both teams are currently tied at 8-3 in conference play alongside New Jersey City.
