Jersey City, NJ - The Montclair State University men's basketball team suffered just its third defeat in 18 games, but its second loss this year to New Jersey City University, with an 83-81 overtime setback on Wednesday, Feb. 13, at NJCU. The loss drops the Red Hawks to 17-7 overall and 11-6 in New Jersey Athletic Conference play, and into a second-place conference tie with New Jersey City and Richard Stockton College. NJCU originally ended MSU's nine-game winning streak with a 96-94 OT triumph at Montclair back on Jan. 16.

Wednesday's game featured no less than 18 tie scores and 18 lead changes before the host Gothic Knights tallied the decisive basket late in the extra session, as senior guard RAFI HARGROVE (Parlin, NJ) fed 6-5 sophomore forward SAMAR BATTLE (East Orange, NJ) for a baseline dunk with just 1.4 seconds remaining. Battle led all players with 23 points and 15 rebounds, while Hargrove dished out a game-high 12 assists to go along with nine points.

OMAR BOOTHE (Teaneck, NJ) paced the Red Hawks with 16 points, and added nine rebounds, five blocks and three assists. Also scoring in double figures for MSU were MICHAEL GLUCK (Union, NJ) with 16 points, MICHAEL DAVIS (Atlantic City, NJ) with 14 points, and BEN MARTINEZ (Scotch Plains, NJ) and JOEY MATIAS (Union City, NJ) with 10 points apiece. Martinez also led MSU with 10 rebounds and eight assists. Gluck put MSU up, 69-66, on a three-point shot with 1:04 remaining in regulation, but Battle completed a three-point play with a free throw with 41 seconds left for a 69-69 tie that sent the game into overtime.

MSU will now wrap up the 2001-02 regular season on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 4:00 p.m. at home against The College of New Jersey.