Men’s Basketball Concludes Non-League Slate With Loss to Kean

UNION, N.J.. — Despite a game-high 25 points from Frank Reali (Staten Island, N.Y./Susan Wagner) and a double-double from Stephane Etheart (Hollis, N.Y./St. Francis Prep), the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's basketball team (4-6) fell on the road to Kean University (4-8), 75-62, on Saturday afternoon.

How It Happened

Both teams remained close early and were tied at 14-all at the midway point of the first half before the Cougars drained three trifectas to score nine unanswered which extended into a 16-4 run over five minutes. But Reali and Etheart brought the Bears back within reach heading into the lockers combining to score all 10 points in a 10-3 spurt to close the half and enter the lockers trailing 33-28.

St. Joseph's remained within one or two possessions for most of the second stanza and took the lead briefly, 44-43, at the 13:46 mark on a Reali triple that capped five unanswered but the hosts responded with seven straight to move back on top for good. A Chris Edwards (Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell) three-pointer pulled SJC back within three, 50-47, with just under 10 minutes to play but the hosts slowly pulled away and outscored the Bears 15-7 over the next six minutes to build another double-digit advantage. Reali would nail back-to-back triples to cut the deficit to five, 67-62, but Kean countered with field goals on the opposite end and scored the final eight points of the contest to end any hopes of a comeback.

For the Bears

• Reali drained five three-pointers and went 8-of-9 from the free-throw line for his game-high 25 points. He also swiped three steals and grabbed a pair of rebounds.
• Etheart recorded his seventh double-double of the season (2nd in Skyline) by way of 18 points and 14 boards, also swiping four steals.
• Kavan Meiner (Staten Island, N.Y./Susan Wagner) chipped in six points, five rebounds, and three assists.

Next Up

The Bears now set their focus to conference play heading to Farmingdale State (5-6, 1-1) for a South Division matchup on Wednesday, January 8. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. with live stats and video available at SJCBears.com/live.