Glassboro, NJ – The Montclair State men's basketball team saw its season come to an end on Saturday afternoon as the fifth-seeded Red Hawks fell to fourth-seeded Rowan University in the first round of the NJAC Men's Basketball Tournament.
Senior
BRANDON CHANNER posted a double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds for MSU which completed its season at 13-13. Montclair was making its 18
th appearance overall and first since 2014.
The Red Hawks fell to 2-3 all-time in the NJAC against the Profs (17-9), who move on to face Ramapo in the semifinals on Tuesday, February 22.
Looking for its third victory over the Profs this season, MSU fell behind 7-1 but slowly chipped away at the deficit and took a 20-19 lead with just under eight minutes to play as
JARRETT BOGUS drained a three-pointer. The teams traded the lead back and forth until 3:15 to play when Jeff Haddock connected on a jumper and added a layup on the next possession for a 29-26 Rowan lead with 2:25 left.
A three-pointer play by Bogus with 1:57 to play tied the game at 29-29 but Daron Curry connected from behind the arc to put the Profs back in front.
JOVANNI CHATHAM countered with a bucket for the Red Hawks but two foul shots by Curry with 17 ticks sent Rowan into the locker room up 34-31.
Brother Nick and Rob DePersia each hit three-pointers in the first four minutes of the second half boosting Rowan's lead to 42-35. A Curry three got the lead to nine however the Red Hawks answered with eight straight points, the last on a
DANIEL RAMIS three-pointer pulling MSU within 50-49.
Gary Carthan stopped the Montclair spurt with a three-pointer and another shot from behind the arc by Shawn Wilson pushed Rowan's lead back to 60-52 with 7:36 remaining. It would be as close as the Red Hawks would get the rest of the way.
Bogus finished with 15 points and seven rebounds while
JORDAN ROBERSON also collected a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Montclair outrebounded Rowan 58-41 however the Red Hawks committed 22 turnovers which turned into 17 Prof points.
