Wayne, NJ -Freshman guard PIERRE MITCHELL (Newark, NJ/East Side) scored 16 points as third-seeded Montclair State survived a late-game rally to defeat second-seeded William Paterson, 70-66 in the opening round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Playoffs at the WPU Rec Center on Wednesday evening.

Junior center JEROME TRAWICK (Newark, NJ/Clifford Scott) had 18 points for the Red Hawks (20-5), who will face Ramapo in the NJAC Championship Game on Friday, February 28th in Mahwah. Game is scheduled for 7:00 pm. MSU lost both games to Ramapo this season, 84-81 in Mahwah on January 22 and 64-54 at Panzer Gymnasium on February 1st.

Montclair State will be making their first appearance in the NJAC title game since 1995 when they fell at Jersey City State (now New Jersey City), 67-50. Wednesday's victory snapped a four-game losing streak in the NJAC Tournament for MSU and a four-game losing skid to the Pioneers in the conference tournament.

The Red Hawks have not won the NJAC Championship since 1982.

Montclair State seemed to have the game in hand late in the second half as they led 65-55 with 2:53 to play in the game, but William Paterson went on 11-1 run to tie the game as Shawn Blakewood scored on a layup with 58 seconds left. MSU then got possession and ran down the shot clock before BEN MARTINEZ (Scotch Plains, NJ/SP-Fanwood) missed a three-pointer. However, MICHAEL GLUCK (Union, NJ/Union) was there for the putback to give the Red Hawks the lead with 23 ticks to go
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William Paterson then had a chance to tie, but the Pioneers turned the ball over and Gluck hit two free throws to seal the win for Montclair State.

JOSEPH THOMAS (Linden, NJ/Linden) had 10 points for Montclair State, which held WPU to just 33 percent (24-of-71) shooting in the game. Montclair was outrebounded 48-33, but held a big advantage at the charity stripe. MSU was 35-of-45, including a 12-of-12 effort by Trawick. The Pioneers made 17-of-26 attempts.