Montclair, NJ – Senior guard Alex Mirabel (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) posted a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds while sophomore swingman Dana John (Hillside, NJ/Pocono Mountain East (PA)) added 16 and nine as New Jersey City University posted its second straight win with a 76-63 victory over Montclair State in New Jersey Athletic Conference Men's Basketball action at Panzer Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.

Junior forward Marques Hill (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) added 12 points and nine rebounds as NJCU moved back over the .500 mark at 8-7 overall and 3-2 in the conference. NJCU also posted its second straight win against Montclair State and won at Panzer Gymnasium for the first time since an 80-78 victory on February 21, 2004.

Junior forward JONATHAN ARTHUR (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) had 14 points and matched a season high with 17 rebounds as the Red Hawks fell to 7-7 on the year and 1-3 in the NJAC.

The Gothic Knights, who led the entire game, raced out to a 14-4 lead in the first four minutes of the game thanks to solid three-point shooting. NJCU's first four field goals came from behind the arc, including two by sophomore guard Kevin Tucker (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris), whose second triple put the lead into double-digits. Montclair State would counter with a 12-4 run of its own to pull back within three points as a jumper by Arthur and free throw by freshman KEN DUDLEY (Willingboro, NJ/Burlington Tech) made the score 18-16 with 9:19 to play in the opening period.

Aaron Desir (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) stopped the run with the three-pointer and a jumper by Shy Martinez (Union City, NJ/Union Hill) restored the lead back to seven at 23-16 with seven minutes to play before halftime. John's layup on the break got the lead back over 10 points, 31-20 and after Montclair cut the lead to 31-25 with 1:38 left, Mirabel connected four times from the charity stripe as NJCU build a 35-25 advantage at the break.

In the second half, NJCU quickly grew the lead to 19 with a 9-0 run all by John in the first 78 seconds of the period, the final points coming on a three-pointer that made the score 44-25. Montclair State would play catch-up the rest of the way getting as close as 10 three times but each time New Jersey City had an answer. A layup by MSU's CHARLES MILLER (Linden, NJ/Linden) put the score at 55-45 with 8:39 to go, but Martinez hit two free throws and Hill added a layup as NJCU led 59-45 with 7:47 left.

Desir finished with right points off the bench for the Gothic Knights, who used a decided advantage at the free throw line. NJCU went 28-of-36 at the charity stripe, including 10-of-11 performance from Hill and 11-of-14 by Mirabel compared to Montclair State's 10-for-21.  Hill had nine rebounds.

Dudley finished with 14 points, five rebounds and five assists while freshman MIKE HERN (Hamburg, NJ/Wallkill Valley) had 12 points and five rebounds. Senior center ERIC SYLVESTER (Orange, NJ/Orange) had 10 points for the Red Hawks.

Montclair State returns to action on Wednesday, January 17 as the Red Hawks host Ramapo College at 8:00 pm in the second half of a NJAC twinbill. NJCU is off until next Saturday, January 20 when it hosts Richard Stockton at 7:00 pm.