Union, NJ – Senior swingman BRANDON CHANNER scored 21 points, including 14 in the second half as Montclair State picked up its first win of the season with a 62-54 victory over Kean University at Harwood Arena on Tuesday evening.

Junior RAHSAAN JOHNSON added 13 points and five rebounds for the Red Hawks, who are now 1-2 (1-0 NJAC) on the young 2016-17 season.  Mike Summerer finished with 13 points for Kean which fell to 0-4 o the year (0-1 NJAC).

MSU found itself down seven points with just over seven minutes left in the opening half after Summerer scored on a layup for a 21-14 Cougar advantage. A three-pointer by Denzel Washington kept the Cougars in front 26-20 with 3:51 left before MSU tallied the last seven points to take the lead.

Channer began things with a free throw and JUSTIN PORTER added two more pulling MSU within 26-23. Porter slammed home another basket with a minute left and two foul shots by Channer with 31 ticks gave its first and only lead of the half at 27-26.

Kean regained the lead early in the second however a seven-point run capped by a three-point play from Johnson gave MSU a 39-33 advantage with 15:11 left. A three-point play by VINCE ANFIELD near the midpoint of the second gave Montclair State its largest lead at 46-37. The Cougars scored 11 of the next 14 points and got within 49-48.

JORDAN ROBERSON pushed the lead back to three with a layup and a three-from Channer with 4:45 left widened the advantage to 54-48. Kean would get no closer than four points the rest of the way.

Roberson finished with seven points and seven rebounds while JARRETT BOGUS totaled seven points along with five rebounds. Montclair, which struggled at the foul line in its first two games, found it stroke at the charity stripe going 14-of-20 at the line.  

Montclair State returns to action on Sunday, November 27 with a 3:00 pm matchup in Upstate New York against Utica College.