Montclair, NJ – Junior forward David Azoroh (Ewing, NJ / Ewing) posted 15 points off the bench, including the go-ahead layup with 30 seconds remaining as Rutgers-Newark escaped with a 62-60 victory over Montclair State at the Panzer Athletic Center on Wednesday evening.

Junior forward Jordan McDaniel (Colonia, NJ / Colonia) had 14 points and senior guard Christian Garcia (Freehold, NJ / Freehold) 11 as the Scarlet Raiders won their third straight improving to 6-1 overall, 2-0 in the NJAC.

Freshman forward DEVYN RANSOM (Jersey City, NJ / Marist) had 14 points and seven rebounds in a reserve role for MSU (3-3, 1-2 NJAC) which dropped its second straight. The Red Hawks also suffered their seventh straight defeat to Rutgers-Newark.

Azoroh's layup squashed a Montclair State comeback as the Red Hawks trailed 60-52 with 4:03 to play after following two free throws by Azoroh.  Ransom answered with a layup at the other end and freshman LAVRONE GREEN hit twice from the line with 1:43 to play cutting the deficit to 60-56.

Senior CHRIS TORRES then got Montclair even as he turned two steals into the game-tying points. Torres connected twice from the line with 1:16 to go and his second swipe led to a fast-break layup with 52 ticks remaining. Rutgers-Newark would call timeout with 44 seconds left and after a timeout, swung the ball around before Azoroh drove the lane for what turned out to be the difference in the game.

MSU would get two chances to tie. ERICK LOFTEN-HARRIS misfired on a layup with 10 seconds to play. The Red Hawks would ge the rebound however Green's three-pointer from the right wing clanged off the rim.

The waning minutes of the second half were a mirror image of the first as Rutgers-Newark led 30-22 with 4:09 remaining when Montclair State made a charge with nine straight points, the last a free throw by JAMES D'ANGELO with 10 seconds left. The Raiders had the final possession and almost saw it slip away as a pass in the paint was deflected. Fortunately for Rutgers-Newark the ball bounced to Garcia all alone underneath the basket which was laid in as the first-half buzzer sounded as the visitor's led 32-31 at the break.

Garcia and Allen Kuiper (Milltown, NJ / Spotswood) each had grabbed five rebounds as did Azoroh, who was 9-of-9 from the line in the game. Rutgers-Newark shot 84 percent (21-of-25) at the charity stripe.

Loften-Harris finished with eight points and seven rebounds for Montclair State, which struggled from the field connecting on 17-of-62 from the field (27 percent). MSU, which got seven points from Torres and Green, was able to overcome its shooting by making 25-of-32 at the line and outrebounding the Raiders 43-33, including 21-6 on the offensive glass.

Torres had six rebounds and two steals.

Both teams return to action on Saturday, December 6 with home NJAC contests. Montclair State hosts Ramapo College at 1:00 pm while the Scarlet Raiders entertain The College of New Jersey in the Golden Dome at 8:00 pm.