Wayne, NJ – Senior AKBAR HOFFMAN knocked down a jumper at the buzzer to send Montclair State past William Paterson 106-105 in overtime to open NJAC play Tuesday.

Hoffman finished the game with 41 points while knocking down 9-of-16 from behind the arc. The 41 points are the third-most in a single game in program history, while his nine triples are just one behind Daniel Ramis' mark of 10. EDDIE EMEDOH added a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Red Hawks (3-2, 1-0 NJAC). Sean Smith tallied 19 points for the Pioneers (3-2, 0-1 NJAC).

Montclair State fell behind early, with the Pioneers opening a seven-point advantage six minutes in. The Red Hawks leveled the game on STEVE BREEMAN triple, but with 6:50 left in the stanza, the Pioneers capped off a 9-2 spurt with a Smith three. MSU responded with nine consecutive markers of their own, capped with a steal and a layup combo from KEYON PRICE. The Red Hawks took a six-point lead into halftime, as Irving Callendar IV hit from downtown with no time left to establish the six-point margin.

The Red Hawks opened up a double-digit edge opening the second period, as Hoffman knocked down three-pointers on consecutive possessions to extend the lead to 55-43. The Newark, NJ stayed hot from deep, as his he hit another with 12:14 left in the second half to push the lead to a game-high 13 points.

A 7-0 spurt Pioneers rally cut the lead to a single possession, but Callender restored the lead to five with a pair of free throws. Emedoh converted a layup, drew the foul, and hit from the charity stripe to put MSU up 90-82. Smith would record William Paterson's next seven points, bringing them to within three. After the Red Hawks missed a pair from the free-throw line, the Pioneers sent the game into overtime, as Smith found Anthony Uribe for a three-pointer as the clock hit zero.

Hoffman and JUSTIN PORTER nailed three's to open the extra session, and the lead swelled to eight on two free throws from NATE NAHIRNY. An 11-2 Pioneer run, finished off with a Uribe layup, gave William Paterson a one-point advantage with just 20 seconds on the clock. The Red Hawks held for the final shot, and Hoffman was able to knock it down to give MSU a one-point win in the NJAC opener.

The senior Hoffman had 28 of his 41 points in the second half and overtime. JALEN PARHAM chipped in seven points and 10 boards, with Breeman hitting 3-of-6 from three. As a unit, the Red Hawks knocked down 18 three-pointers, the most recorded in a single game in program history. The 46 attempts easily surpassed the previous of 39, set against Ramapo in 2017-18.

The Red Hawks will continue their season-opening road trip, heading to Center Valley, PA to battle DeSales University on Monday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.