MORRISTOWN, N.J. - The College of Saint Elizabeth's men's basketball team (6-3, 1-1 NEAC) fell in its final game in the 2018 calendar year, 88-77 to Kean University on Tuesday evening.

The Eagles started the game strong in the first half, scoring the first five points to take a 5-0 lead. With the Eagles leading 8-5 at the 16:12 mark, the Cougars used a 13-0 run over the next five minutes to take a 18-8 lead.  Despite trailing 20-10, the Eagles used a 9-0 behind seven points by Ted Thelemaque to slice the deficit to one.  

The next five minutes saw back-and-forth action by both squads as the Eagles tied the game at 27 with 4:50 remaining in the first half.  With the Eagles leading 31-28, the Cougars went on a 10-0 run to regain a 38-31 advantage.  With 38 seconds to go, Joshua Jackson knocked down his second three-pointer of the game, getting the Eagles within 38-34 heading into the halftime break.

CSE's offense came out hot to begin the second half, scoring 10 of the first 15 points to retake a 44-43 lead.  The Cougars used an 8-2 run over the next two minutes to take a 51-45 lead.  Kean continued to up the score, taking a 66-55 lead with 6:30 remaining, its largest of the contest.  

Despite trailing by double-figures, the Eagles would not go away, rolling off an 8-0 run to get within 68-65.  The Eagles would get to as close as one with three minutes remaining, however the Cougars scored the next seven points to take a 76-68 lead.  Despite the hard fought effort in the second half, the Eagles couldn't complete the comeback, dropping the contest, 88-77.

Thelemaque led the Eagles with 17 points and four steals.  Jackson finished with a career 13 points while Darnill Brown added 10 points.

Following a three week layoff, the Eagles return to action on January 5 when it hosts the College of New Rochelle at 12 pm.