Upper Montclair, NJ - The Montclair State University men's basketball team won its annual Tip-Off Tournament for the second season in a row, defeating Buffalo State College, 74-55, in today's championship game at Panzer Gym. Montclair improves to 2-0 this season, while Buffalo State falls to 1-1.

MSU sophomore forward GIAN PAUL GONZALEZ (North Haledon, NJ/Manchester Regional) was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after pacing the Red Hawks with 22 points while collecting six rebounds and five assists, and went 8-for-8 from the free throw line.

Montclair State used a 15-0 run to go up by a 17-7 score with just under seven minutes remaining in the first half, but the visiting Bengals shot 13-for-22 from the free throw line, including a perfect 6-for-6 on three MSU technical fouls, to go ahead by a 33-31 count at halftime. BSC then led 44-35, with 16:33 remaining in regulation before Montclair used a 24-2 run to take a 61-46 lead and put the tournament away, with Gonzalez putting MSU ahead to stay on a lay-up with 12:59 left.

Junior forward DUQUAN EVERETT (Orange, NJ/Orange) scored 19 points for the Red Hawks and added a team-high eight rebounds, while shooting 9-for-12 from the field to earn All-Tournament team honors. Joining him was BSC senior forward Joshua Becker (Hamburg, NY/Frontier), who tallied a team-high 18 points for the Bengals. BSC senior forward Perry Davis (Buffalo, NY/Seneca) also earned All-Tournament accolades with 13 points, six rebounds, three blocks and two steals.

In today's consolation game, Lincoln (PA) University defeated Fisher (MA) College. Sophomore guard Andre Logan (Sharon Hill, PA/Academy Park) notched a game-high 39 points for the victorious Lions (1-1), including 11 three-point baskets. Junior guard Carmine Charles (New York, NY) had 13 points for the Falcons (0-2), while both players were named All-Tournament. MSU defeated Lincoln last night, 80-45, after Buffalo State downed Fisher, 69-61. Gonzalez had 13 points last night in his MSU debut, while Everett had a team-high 16 points. Becker had 21 points for BSC against Fisher, while Davis tallied a team-best 29 points.

Montclair State will now open its 2003-04 New Jersey Athletic Conference season on Tuesday, Nov. 25, at Kean University.