The New York University men's basketball team hosted Kean University on Saturday, November 15, at the John A. Paulson Center in Manhattan. The Violets outlasted the Cougars, prevailing 70-65. 

The Violets opened the game with a 9-5 lead, which was answered by a 14-0 scoring run by Kean. 

NYU fought to erase the Kean lead, as a seven-point scoring run with back-to-back buckets from Carnegie Johnson brought them within five points at 28-23. With 30 seconds left on the clock, Andrew Waldman made a key layup and free throw to cut the deficit to four points before halftime. 

Waldman picked up right where he left off, sinking a three-pointer to bring the Violets within one to begin the second half. The Violets took their first lead since the fourth minute of the game after Bryan Moussako delivered a three-point bucket with 13:43 left to play. 

NYU never relinquished the lead after that, but the Cougars made it a one-point game with 35 seconds left on the clock. Two clutch free throws from Johnson gave NYU a 68-65 lead, putting pressure on the Cougars to execute a three-point shot. A turnover stifled their hopes of a comeback and Johnson made two more free throws to secure the win for the Violets.

The Violets shot 60% from the three-point line in the second half, with Moussako going 4-7. 

"We didn't start the way we wanted. We seemed a little one step behind on everything and just didn't play as hard in the first half," said Head Coach Waleed Farid. "In the second half, we were a lot more patient on offense. We picked up our intensity when we needed to and showed that we're able to adjust within the game."

Johnson led the way with 18 points while Moussako and Waldman finished with 17 and 16, respectively. 

Waldman tallied 12 rebounds and Moussako added nine. 

"Waldman was absolutely phenomenal. His energy from the start of the game to the end kept our team's energy up," said Farid. "Johnson is a game changer and made some big plays for us to get the lead. Moussako was huge at just knocking down some shots and taking the lid off the rim." 

The Violets take the court again on Saturday, November 22, facing Manhattanville University in Purchase, NY. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.