UNION, N.J. (Feb. 7, 2026) – The Kean University men's basketball team went on a 15-point run to end the first half, taking the lead for good, and went on to defeat Rutgers University-Camden, 65-49, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Saturday afternoon.
 
Kean evened its record at 11-11 overall and improved to 8-7 in the conference. Rutgers-Camden fell to 10-11 overall and 5-10 in the NJAC.
 
It was the Cougars' fourth straight win against the Scarlet Raptors, lifting Kean's lead in the all-time series to 67-29.
 
With the Scarlet Raptors leading, 19-14, Kean went on a 15-point run over the final 7:44 of the first half to take a 29-19 lead into the break. A layup by junior forward Daniel Dextraze put the Cougars ahead to stay, 21-19, with 3:50 remaining in the half.
 
Kean held its biggest lead, 50-33, with 8:48 remaining in the game.
 
Dextraze finished with a double-double of 21 points and 12 rebound, while adding five steals. Freshman forward Malachi Jeffers-Viera netted 15 points for the Cougars and junior guard Kareem Irby canned 10. Sophomore guard Braelen Crump had eight points and a game-high eight assists.
 
Senior forward Cameron Downs was the lone Raptor scoring in double figures, netting 20 points. He also added a team-high six rebounds. Freshman forward Makai Crawford notched a team- and career-high five assists, while sophomore guard Ryan Senft had four assists.
 
Kean shot 25-for-54 (46.3 percent) from the floor and 10-for-16 (62.5) from the line, while Rutgers-Camden shot 21-for-48 (43.8) and 5-for-7 (71.4), respectively. The Cougars held a 34-25 advantage off the boards.
 
Rutgers-Camden made 19 turnovers, while Kean had 14.
 
Rutgers-Camden returns to NJAC action on Wednesday when it hosts Stockton University at 8 p.m.