Upper Montclair, NJ - Senior forward DARIUS SKEETE (Union, NJ/Union) scored a game-high 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds as Montclair State defeated Worcester State (MA), 84-74 in the opening round of the Billy Martucci Holiday Tournament at Panzer Gymnasium on Thursday evening.

JOSEPH THOMAS (Linden, NJ/Linden) added 16 points and seven assists for the Red Hawks (7-4), who won their fifth straight. Montclair State will face Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) in the championship game on Friday at 7:30 pm. Savannah advances with a 72-65 win over York College (NY).

Tied at 39-39 at halftime, the teams traded scores until MSU took a a 57-54 lead with 14:17 to go as MICHAEL DAVIS scored on a layup. But the Lancers (2-9) scored the next 11 points to build a 65-57 lead on a dunk by ISAAC OUTTEN. Montclair responded by scoring the next nine, seven by Skeete, who had 17 over the final 20 minutes.

After Worcester State took a 69-68 lead with 6:07 to go, the Red Hawks went on a 10-1 one to take a 78-70 lead with 1:23 remaining.
Outten finished with 20 points for Worcester State.

In the opening game, SCAD(8-3) jumped out to a 12-0 lead and built 46-28 halftime advantage before York (4-6) battled back and pulled within 62-60 with 3:34 to play on a basket by QUINCY OUDKER. However, the Bees scored the next six points to put the game away.

PAUL OTIM finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds for SCAD, whihch shot 51 percent from the field (27-of-52) and 55 percent (11-of-20) from three-point range. WESLEY ADAMS added 18 points while DWAYNE URIRI had 18 points for York.