Center Valley, PA – The Montclair State men's basketball team saw its five-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday evening as the Red Hawks fell to DeSales University, 86-74 at Billera Hall.

Senior forward JALEN PARHAM registered a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds as Montclair fell to 7-3 on the season with their first loss since a 96-91 setback against Wilkes University on November 18. Senior guard AKBAR HOFFMAN also totaled 16 points.

MSU led just once in the contest and trailed 15-7 after the Bulldogs' Ben Pratt drilled a three-pointer with 14:45 left. The Red Hawks chipped away at the deficit and used am 18-9 run over the next seven minutes and moved in front as Hoffman stole a pass and drove in for layup giving Montclair State a 28-27 advantage.

DeSales (4-4) answered immediately with a three by Julian Wing and back-to-back field goals by Matt Kachelries for a 34-28 lead with 5:39 to play before halftime. The Bulldogs would go up by six late in the half however MSU tied the contest at 39-39 with 47 seconds remaining as JUSTIN PORTER sank two free throws. Kachelries connected from in close 19 seconds later as DeSales took a two-point lead into the break.

The host Bulldogs opened the second half with a 17-6 run to expand its lead to 55-45 on an Alex House three-pointer with 15:29 left. DeSales would lead by double digits the remainder of the game.

Senior guard NATE NAHIRNY finished with 13 points and four assists for Montclair with Porter adding 10 along with eight rebounds. The Red Hawks shot 43 percent (27-of-63) from the field while the Bulldogs converted 32-of-59 shots (54 percent).

MSU is now off until the start of 2020 when it heads to Moravian College and Bethlehem, PA for the Steel Club Classic. Montclair State takes on Oswego State on Saturday, January 4 at 6:30 pm before facing Ithaca College the following day at 5:30 pm.