Jersey City, NJ – Senior forward
JORDAN ROBERSON posted a second straight double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds however New Jersey City University rode a solid shooting touch in the second half for a 74-66 victory over the Red Hawks on Wednesday evening.
Guards
AKBAR HOFFMAN and
MYLES MITCHELL-WHITE each had 17 points for Montclair (14-7, 9-5 NJAC), which held a four-point lead at halftime. Denzel Banks scored a game-high 26 points for the Gothic Knights (16-5, 11-3 NJAC), who earned a split of the season series with the victory.
The Red Hawks fell behind by seven points early but managed to take a 17-15 lead with 8:46 to play in the first half after a Roberson layup. After the Gothic Knights knotted the game at 21-21, Mitchell-White made a steal and ensuing layup giving MSU the lead. Two more ties were forged in the final two minutes before Roberson gave the Red Hawks a 28-27 lead with 41 seconds to play on two free throws. Mitchell-White's jumper at the buzzer gave MSU a 30-26 advantage at the break.
But NJCU found its shooting touch in the second half making 16-of-26 attempts from the floor while also sinking 14-of-19 at the foul line. Meanwhile, Montclair managed just 9-of-26 shooting from the field.
Montclair led 39-34 with 16:13 left after
JALEN PARHAM threw down a dunk. The lead changed hands over the next eight minutes with Montclair holding a 51-50 lead with just under nine minutes to play. NJCU scored the next four points to take the lead and went up 57-52 with six minute to go on a free throw from Banks.
The Red Hawks battled back, regaining the lead at 60-59 on free throws by Mitchell-White with 3:42 left. Banks countered with five in a row to regain the lead for the Gothic Knights, 64-60 with 3:42 remaining. Montclair would get back to 64-62 in the final 90 seconds however two fouls shots each from Sam Toney and Yuri Brutus upped the NJCU lead to 69-62 with 47 seconds.
Parham had 10 points and seven rebounds for Montclair State.
MSU will look to bounce back on Saturday, February 2 as it hosts Rowan University at the Panzer Athletic Center. Second meeting of the season between the Profs and Red Hawks tips off at 1:00 pm.
