Bethlehem, PA – Freshman
KEN DUDLEY (Willingboro, NJ / Burlington Tech) scored 13 points, grabbed seven rebounds and handed out five assists, but Montclair State fell short in the championship game of the Greyhounds Starters Classic on Sunday, losing to host Moravian, 73-65.
Sophomore
MAURICE TORRES (Summit, NJ / Summit) was named to the All-Tournament Team along with Dudley as the Red Hawks fell to 6-6 on the season. Steven Wendenrger had 10 points and was named the MVP for Moravian, which improved to 7-6 in winning their 12th Classic title.
The Red Hawks shot 51 percent (16-of-31) in the first half and jumped out to a 28-16 lead with 7:46 to play in the opening period as
GARAN DICKSON (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) scored on a layup. Dudley added a layup with 3:46 before half to make the score 33-23, however, the Greyhounds would close out the period with a 12-3 run to get within a point.
Matt Devlin began the run with a jumper and after an MSU foul shot, Mark Franzyshen but in a basket and made one free throw for a 34-26 Montclair lead with 1:42 left. Ryan Miller then drained a three to make it a three-point game but
ELLIOT SOLOP (Colonia, NJ/ John F. Kennedy) countered for the Red Hawks with 1:02 to play making the margin 36-31. Chris Earley would get a tip-in with 30 seconds to play and Miller added a layup with one tick to go as Montclair held the slim 36-35 lead at the break.
In the second half, the Red Hawks were able to maintain the lead getting in front by as many as eight points as
ERIC SYLVESTER (Orange, NJ/Orange) made a layup to make the score 53-45 with 12:25 left. A free throw by
CHARLES MILLER (Linden, NJ/Linden) put MSU ahead 65-60 with 3:54 to play, however, Moravian would close out the game with the final 13 points.
Wenderfer and Eric Whitman each hit baskets to bring Moravina within one with 2:28 left. Franzyshen made to free throws to put the Greyhounds in front 66-65 with 1:40 left and Whitman layup off the break with 1:04 to go pushed the lead to three. Miller then went 5-of-8 at the line in the last minute to secure the win.
Sylvester finished with 10 points and five rebounds while freshman
JOHN BYRNE (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) added 11 points off the bench. Dickson and Torres each had eight points.
The Red Hawks return to action on Wednesday, January 10 as they host Berkeley College in a 7:00 pm tipoff at Panzer Gymnasium. It will be the second meeting between the team this season as MSU posted a 91-43 triumph at home back on November 27.
