Mahwah, NJ - Senior forward
GIAN PAUL GONZALEZ returned from injury to post a double-double with 26 points and 11 rebounds as Montclair State topped Ramapo College, 74-68 in NJAC action at the Bradley Center on Wednesday evening.
Gonzalez, who missed the previous game with a shoulder injury, recorded his ninth double-double of the season as the Red Hawks moved back to the .500 mark at 10-10 overall, 6-7 in the NJAC. Rashawn Wilson had 20 points and 12 rebounds for Ramapo (15-5, 8-5 NJAC).
After a tight game through the first 10 minutes, MSU scored nine straight points to take an eight points lead with just under seven minutes to play in the half. Gonzalez scored the first four points and
JAMAL FORD added the final five, including a three-pointer that made the score 21-13.
Ramapo would take the lead 25-23 with 3:33 to play, however, Montclair scored nine of the final 11 points of the half to take a 32-27 lead into intermission. Gonzalez had a basket and
MAURICE TORRES hit on consecutive baskets before Ford capped the 9-2 run with a jumper at 42 seconds remaining.
In the second half, Montclair State would get up by as many as 12 points as
JONATHAN ARTHUR's basket with 13:26 gave the Red Hawks a 46-34 lead. The Roadrunners would trim the lead a two, 57-55 on a three-pointer by Todd Lowber. But that would be as close as the Roadrunners would get as Gonzalez sank a pair of free throws and Ford added another as MSU restored the lead to 60-55 with 3:28 to play.
Junior center
ERIC SYLVESTER added a career-high 14 points while Ford chipped in with 13 points and six steals. Arthur had eight points and 12 rebounds for the Red Hawks while Torres registered eight points. Montclair State shot 52 percent in the second half (10-of-19) while connecting on 22-of-26 (85 percent) from the free throw line.
Montclair State returns to action on Saturday, February 4 as they host the Scarlet Raptors of Rutgers-Camden at 2:00 pm. At halftime of the game, MSU will honor its 1980-81 NJSAC championship and NCAA Division III Quarterfinalist squad.
