Jersey City, NJ – The Montclair State men's basketball suffered a major setback in its bid for an NJAC Tournament berth on Saturday after the Red Hawks fell at New Jersey City University, 82-59.

Junior BRANDON CHANNER scored 24 points however the Red Hawks (11-13) suffered their second consecutive loss but more importantly fell into a tie for the sixth and final spot with William Paterson University. Both teams are currently 7-10 with MSU hosting Stockton University on Wednesday, February 17 while the Pioneers travel to Glassboro, NJ to face Rowan.

The Red Hawks struggled shooting the basketball hitting on just 16-of-55 attempts (29 percent), including 3-of-22 from behind the arc. Montclair State was 24-of-36 at the free throw line with Channer accounting for half of those on 12-of-15 shooting.

Jalen Harris had 30 points for NJCU (17-7, 14-3 NJAC), which clinched the regular-season championship and the No. 1 seed in the NJAC Tournament. The Gothic Knights, who avenged a 72-71 loss to MSU on January 16, will receive a first-round bye when the tournament gets underway on February 20 and host a semifinal on February 24.

Trailing 9-4 seven minutes into the game, the Red Hawks scored 14 of the next 17 points in the game. Channer's three-point play put gave MSU the lead at 13-12 and JARRETT BOGUS followed with a three-pointer for a four-point advantage with 10:21 to go. Channer added two more from the free throw line a minute later to make the score 18-12 however NJCU countered with a 14-2 spurt that gave the Knights the lead for good.

New Jersey City led 41-32 at halftime and quickly boosted the lead with the first six points of the second half. The Gothic Knights maintained the double-digit lead the rest of the way.

AARON WILLIAMS had eight points and five rebounds for MSU, which got six points and seven boards from JORDAN ROBERSON. DANIEL RODRIGUEZ added seven points.