Pomona, NJ – Senior forward GIAN PAUL GONZALEZ  scored 22 points while freshman MAURICE TORRES (right) added 18 as Montclair State stayed in the NJAC Tournament hunt with a 65-61 victory over Richard Stockton on Saturday afternoon.

The win upped the Red Hawks mark to 12-11 overall and 8-8 in NJAC, one game behind Ramapo for the final spot in the upcoming NJAC Tournament.

Gonzalez posted his 11th double-double of the season and boosted his career point total to 1,349 points moving him into sixth place on the MSU scoring list.

Four Stockton players reached double figures led by Kevin Holmes with 17 points. Tobias Smith  added 14 markers, followed by Mario Lancioni  with 13 points and Sid Jackson with 11 points.

Torres hit two three-pointers and Gonzalez scored six points as Montclair jumped out to a 24-8 lead in the first 10 minutes of play. Torres later drained another trey in the closing seconds of the period to give the Red Hawks a 35-23 lead at intermission. Gonzalez led all scorers with 10 first-half points.

Stockton tried to rally in the second half, but could not overtake Montclair. The Ospreys pulled within 53-52 with 5:48 to play but Gonzalez scored seven consecutive points to boost the cushion to 60-52. After Holmes sank a free throw to cut the margin to 62-61 with 37 seconds left, ERIC SYLVESTER answered with a free throw for a 63-61 Montclair lead. Stockton had a shot to tie, but a 12-foot jumper by Smith rattled out at the 20-second mark and Montclair went on to the 65-61 win.

Montclair State returns to action on Wednesday, February 15 as they play their final home game of the regular season. MSU will host The College of New Jersey at 8:00 pm.