Jersey City, NJ – Two free throws by New Jersey City prior to the start of the game put Montclair State in a two-point deficit which it could not recover from as the Red Hawks fell to the Gothic Knights, 67-56 at the John J. Moore Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon.

Sophomore guard ERICK LOFTEN-HARRIS and freshman SHAUN RUSSELL each scored 13 points for the Red Hawks (5-9, 2-7 NJAC), who dropped their second straight contest.

Montclair was assessed a technical foul for dunking during the pregame warmup and the Knights turned that into a 2-0 lead before the opening tip as Jourdan Roberson hit both free throws. Neville Joseph added a layup once the game began and a layup by Roberson made the score 10-4 with 17:12 left.

DARIAN GONZALEZ connected on a jumper to pull MSU within 10-8 however NJCU scored the next seven points, taking a nine-point lead on David Cole's fastbreak layup with 12:16 to play. Cole's jumper in the lane gave the Gothic Knights their largest lead of the half at 18 points before Montclair's LAVRONE GREEN hit from behind the arc late for a 39-24 NJCU lead at the half.

In the second half, Montclair was able to slice the lead to 41-32 with 13:35 to go on a layup by Russell however NJCU answered with the next four points boosting the lead back to double digits. Montclair would get as close as 62-56 with 2:30 to play as Green again hit from behind the arc. But that would be the last points as MSU would get as NJCU closed out the game with the final five points.

Green finished with 10 points for Montclair State while junior KEVIN MCGORRY added nine points, eight rebounds and four blocks.

Montclair State returns home to begin the second half of its NJAC schedule. The Red Hawks host Kean University at the Panzer Athletic Center on Wednesday, January 21 at 8:00 pm. MSU will be looking to sweep the season set against the Cougars having already posted a 72-70 win in Union back on November 25.