Union, NJ - Junior guard ERICK LOFTEN-HARRIS scored 20 points helping Montclair State to its third consecutive victory in a 65-60 triumph over Kean at the Harwood Arena on Wednesday evening.

Junior BRANDON CHANNER added 14 points and nine rebounds as the Red Hawks jumped back over the .500 mark at 9-8 overall while squaring their conference record at 5-5. Montclair also swpet the season series from the Cougars (2-14, 2-8 NJAC). MSU defeated Kean 74-64 at home back on November 21.

The Red Hawks never trailed in the contest and scored the first five points of the game as Channer connected on a three 20 seconds in and JALEEL CHRISTMON tipped in a missed shot. Five consecutive points from Jarett Bogus gave Montclair State a 12-2 advantage however Kean scored 19 of the next 28 points and tied game at 21-21 on a Diego Pujols basket with 9:10 left in the first. Back-to-back three's from Channer and Bogus put Montclair in front 27-21 but again the Cougars drew within a point at 27-26 on Jery Crismond's fast-break layup with over four minutes to play.

MSU closed out the half with a 9-0 run as Loften-Harris' layup got in ahead of the buzzer allowing the Red Hawks to head into the break up 36-26.

BRIAN CROSBY opened the second half with a layup and Loften-Harris buried a three-pointer with 17:28 left as Montclair State took its largest lead at 41-26 but just like the first meeting, Kean battled back. Crismond's two foul shots with 6:18 to play brought Kean within 53-48. A three by Loften-Harris extended the lead back to 58-49 with just under five minutes to go but a three by Pujols cut the Cougar deficit to 60-57 with 2:58 left. Channer's steal and layup with 1:39 put MSU up 62-57 which was answered immediately on the other end as Timothy Bradley hit from behind the arc bringing Kean within 62-60.

After a miss at each end of the floor, Loften-Harris was fouled with 16 seconds to go. He made the first for a three-point MSU lead. Kean got the ball and Pujols missed a layup. Channer grabbed the rebounds and was fouled with six seconds to play. He hit both free throws to ice the game for the Red Hawks.

Bogus finished with eight points and seven rebounds while Christmon added seven along with three caroms.  Montclair State shot 14-of-18 at the foul line compared to just 5-of-8 by the Cougars. MSU also enjoyed a 42-29 advantage on the boards.

Montclair State is slated to play at The College of New Jersey on Saturday, January 23 at 3:00 pm.