Box Score Union, NJ – Sophomore forward
STEVE BREEMAN scored a season-high 25 points while
JALEN PARHAM posted a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds; however it would not be enough as Montclair State fell to Kean University 79-75 at Harwood Arena on Saturday.
Senior
JUSTIN PORTER added 12 points and five rebounds as the Red Hawks (8-10, 6-5 NJAC) lost for the eighth time in their last nine games.
Kendall Bount registered a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Cougars (5-13, 2-9 NJAC), who snapped a nine-game losing streak against MSU winning for the first time since January 21, 2015, at Montclair in an 81-78 triumph.
The Red Hawks led by two at halftime and widened that lead to 61-49 thanks in part to 15-6 run over a five-minute spurt near the midpoint of the second half. Breeman led the way with six points. Kean answered with a 15-2 run of its own with Jared Latane scoring eight. Blount had the go-ahead bucket with 5:30 left putting the Cougars up 64-63.
Montclair regained the lead, and a Breeman three-pointer with 3:10 left gave MSU a 70-66 advantage. Kean answered with eight in a row, six by Latane. Blount capped the run with a great hustle play as he followed up his three-point miss with a layup making the score 74-70 with 96 seconds remaining. Parham cut the lead back to 74-72 with the teams trading free throws in the final seconds. Mario Gunn would seal the game for the Cougars hitting twice with two seconds left.
The Cougars had the hot hand early, making five of its first six shots and led 15-5 after Myles Owens connected on a short jumper with 15:21 left in the opening period. Mpntclair countered with a 20-11 spurt over the next 10 minutes to pull within a point. Porter scored seven in the spurt as MSU closed the gap to 26-25 with 4:25 to play.
Kean pushed the lead back to 30-25 a minute later before Montclair State finished out the half with an 11-4 run. A Porter three-point gave the Red Hawks their first lead at 32-30, and after a Latane bucket, Breeman drilled a three for a 35-32 advantage with 1:54 to go. Kendall Blount cut the deficit to 35-34 with 24 seconds on a short field goal.
JOSEPH RADI hit one at the line with a second left as Montclair led 36-34 at the break.
Breeman added six rebounds on top of his solid shooting night. The sophomore was 8-of-10 from the floor, including 7-of-9 from behind the arc.
NATE NAHIRNY totaled eight points for MSU, which shot 41 percent (27-of-66) for the game. The Red Hawks went 11-of-20 at the foul line.
Montclair State is back at home for its next contest on Wednesday, January 29. The Red Hawks host Ramapo College at the Panzer Athletic Center looking the sweep the season series with the Roadrunners. MSU captured the first contest 80-76 in Mahwah back on December 4.
