Ewing, NJ - TCNJ junior Scott Findlay scored four consecutive points as The College of New Jersey closed out overtime with an 8-0 run en route to a 91-84 victory over Montclair State in New Jersey Athletic Conference Men's Basketball action on Wednesday evening.
Findlay finished with 24 points and 17 rebounds as the Lions (17-8, 10-6 NJAC) rebounded from a 10-point halftime deficit early in the second half and picked up a key victory toward the upcoming NJAC Tournament which begins next week. TCNJ entered the evening with a shot at the No. 2 spot in the tournament, which brings a first-round bye.
GIAN PAUL GONZALEZ finished with 24 points and seven rebounds for the Red Hawks (13-10, 8-7 NJAC), who fall to 8-7 and remain muddled in a pack of several teams for one of the six spots in the league post-season tournament. MSU entered the day tied for fourth place.
The Lions' Bobby Davison helped send the game into the extra period as he connected from the free-throw line with 1:19 to play in regulation. TCNJ then had three chances to win the game in the closing seconds, but couldn't convert.
In the overtime, the teams traded points until
QUENTIN DEMERITTE put the Red Hawks in front 84,83 as he scored on a layup with 3:03 left. However, Findlay answered for TCNJ as his layup made the score 85-84 with 2:47 to go. Montclair State then committed two consecutive turnovers and Findlay made those pay as he scored on a layup with 1:29 remaining to boost the lead to three. Two more turnovers by MSU gave away the Red Hawks' opportunities and Mike Snyder sank a pair of free throws with 15 seconds left and Derick Grant added two more to close out the game and give New Jersey the win.
Montclair State built a nine-point halftime lead, 46-37 and pushed the lead to double digits early in the second period as Gonzalez hit two free throws for a 50-40 lead just under two minutes into the period. But TCNJ responded with a 10-0 run over the next three minutes, tying the game on a Kyle Burke three-pointer with 15:27 left.
Grant finished with 22 points while Snyder posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Burke had 13 points as TCNJ outrebounded Montclair State, 43-27 in the game.
MICHAEL GLUCK had 23 points and four rebounds for Montclair State while Demeritte and
JAMAL FORD each added 13. The Red Hawks shot 48 percent (29-of-60) from the field, but just 9-of-24 in the second half.
Montclair State will try to nail down a spot in the NJAC Tournament as it closes out the regular season on Saturday, February 19. The Red Hawks will host Kean University at 1:00 pm.
