Upper Montclair, NJ (01/08/03) - Senior guard
JOSEPH THOMAS (Linden, NJ/Linden) scored 22 of his 24 points in the second half in overtime as No. 23 Montclair State remained unbeaten with an 88-78 extra-session victory over UMass-Dartmouth at Panzer Gymnasium on Wednesday evening.
Junior center
JEROME TRAWICK (Newark, NJ/Clifford Scott) had 24 points and 15 rebounds for the Red Hawks. . Sean Walsh (East Sandwich, MA/Sandwich) had 22 points and Brian Cagle (Norwich, CT/ Winchendon Prep) added 19 and nine rebounds for the Corsairs (4-6), who were outscored 16-6 in the extra session and made just 3-of-12 attempts in the period.
The win pushed Montclair State to 11-0 on the season, the best start by the Red Hawks since the 1969-70 season when MSU began the year 14-0. Montclair also completed their non-conference play unbeaten (6-0) for the second time in five years under head coach Ted Fiore.
Tied at 72-72, Montclair scored the first seven points of the extra session. Thomas hit two free throws and
ANTWAN DOZIER (Pleasantville, NJ/Pleasantville) put back a missed shot to make the score 76-72. Thomas then sank a foul shot for a five-point advantage and Dozier hit a layup to make the score 79-72 with 2:19 to play. Tim Gaspar (Dartmouth, MA/Dartmouth) cut the lead to five with a layup, however, Montclair reeled off the next eight points, including a three-point play by
MICHAEL GLUCK (Union, NJ/Union) to give MSU an 84-74 lead with 67 seconds to go.
The Red Hawks overcame a 10-point deficit with 16 minutes left in regulation and held a 72-68 lead with 20 seconds left as Gluck sank two free throws. But Gaspar scored on a layup with 14 seconds left and the Corsairs caused a turnover on the inbounds pass. Walsh picked up the loose ball and scored to tie the game at 72-72. The Red Hawks had an opportunity to win the game, but Dozier's jumper from the corner bounced off the rim.
Dozier finished with 11 points and six rebounds as Montclair State shot 55 percent over the last 25 minutes (21-of-38) after making just 11-of-32 (34 percent) from the floor in the first half. Gluck added 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench while Thomas grabbed seven boards as the Red Hawks held a 42-31 edge on the glass. MSU also held a huge advantage at the charity stripe going 19-of-27 (70 percent) while UMass-Dartmouth managed just three attempts, making two of them.
