Ewing, NJ - Despite another outstanding performance from junior forward DUQUAN EVERETT (Orange, NJ/Orange), the Montclair State men's basketball team fell to The College of New Jersey, 73-63 on Wednesday evening.

Everett, the NJAC Player of the Week, had 34 points and 10 rebounds as the Red Hawks lost their third straight and fell to 7-5 overall and 0-3 in the NJAC. The streak is Montclair's longest since it dropped five in a row during the 2001-02 campaign.

TCNJ improved to 8-4 overall and 1-2 in the NJAC having now won five straight after they defeated MSU 73-63 on the night. With the loss, MSU drops to 7-5 overall and 0-3 in the league, having lost three straight.

After MSU opened an early lead as they led by 12 points with 12:43 left to play in the first half (16-4), the Lions would eventually tie the game at the half, 29-29 as junior guard Derick Grant (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) would hit a jumper with 0:46 left to play in the first half. Grant added seven first half points to pace the team, which shot just 36.4% (12-33) from the floor.

Everett added 18 points in the first half for the Red Hawks, including a 7-9 effort from the floor. The Red Hawks converted only two three-point field goals in the first half, both by Everett.

TCNJ's junior guard Kyle Burke (Maywood, NJ/Hackensack) netted eight first half points off the bench with a pair of three-point baskets for the Lions. The Lions would pull away in the second half as Burke hit back to back three-point baskets at 4:50 to give the Lions a 61-49 lead and helped TCNJ collect their first league win of the season.

In the second half, the Lions would capitalize on some clutch free throw shooting as the Lions hit 18-of-20 free throws (90.0%) and finished the night having made 20-of-22 free throws in the victory.

Grant led all Lions with 26 points, while sophomore forward Scott Findlay (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris) added a season-high 17 points with nine boards. Junior guard Mike Snyder (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) added nine points, but contributed a game-high and career-high 12 rebounds for the night. MSU's

Everett led all scorers with a game-high 34 points as he converted 12-of-21 field goals and made 8-of-11 free throws with a 10 board effort. Everett was the only Red Hawk in double-digits in the contest and his fifth of the season.

MSU finished the night with a 34.4% shooting effort from the floor (21-61), while hitting just four three-point field goals (18.2%) and 17-of-23 free throws.

Montclair State concludes its long road trip away from Panzer Gymnasium on Saturday, Novemeber 17 as they travel to Rowan for a 4:00 pm matchup. MSU returns to Panzer Gymnasium for the first time since December 13 on Wednesday, January 21 when it hosts rival William Paterson at 8:00 pm.