Arlington, VA – The Montclair State men's basketball team nearly erased a 22-point deficit in the second half but came up short in a 96-91 loss to Wilkes University in the championship game of the Pablo Coto Tip-Off Tournament at Marymount University on Sunday.

Senior guard NATE NAHIRNY recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds as the Red Hawks had their two-game win streak snapped and fell to 2-2 on the season. Nahirny was named to the All-Tournament Team. Junior IRVING CALLENDER IV also put together a double-double performance with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

MSU trailed 48-32 at halftime however two three-pointers to open the half by Rob Pecorelli boosted the lead to 54-32 less than a minute in. Montclair chipped away at the deficit throughout the half but still found itself down 79-61 with 6:41 to play before making its comeback.

Four free throws by EDDIE EMEDOH got the score to 79-65 and two more at the line by Nahirny with 4:45 left drew Montclair within 81-69. STEVE BREEMAN drilled a three 14 seconds later making it an 11-point contest and one from AKBAR HOFFMAN with just over four minutes left pulled the Red Hawks within 83-75. Breeman would come through with five straight, including a three to close the gap to 89-85 with 2:05 to play.

Jake Robel answered for Wilkes (4-0) connecting on a jumper with 48 seconds that was answered by a JUSTIN PORTER layup making the score 91-87. Sean Coller made two free throws to boost the lead back to six with 28 ticks. Nahirny sank one free throw for a 93-88 Colonels lead. Nickerson Demelfi added another foul shot pushing the Wilkes lead to 94-88 with 11 seconds.

Nahirny drained a three with six seconds left to make it a one possession game however Pecorelli iced the game making two free throw with three seconds to play.

Emedoh finished with 16 points for MSU, which got 12 from Hoffman. Porter and JALEN PARHAM had eight points and five rebounds each for Montclair State. Breeman tallied eight points.

The Red Hawks are now off and return to action on Tuesday, November 26 with its first NJAC contest of the season. Montclair will face local rival William Paterson in Wayne, NJ at 8:00 pm.