Ewing, NJ – Senior JALEN PARHAM scored 18 points, but the Montclair State men's basketball team was topped by The College of New Jersey 98-88 in New Jersey Athletic Conference action Saturday.

The Red Hawks (9-11, 7-6 NJAC) and Lions (12-8, 9-4 NJAC) split the season series after MSU claimed a two-point win over the Lions earlier this year.

The two sides traded baskets opening the game, as the frenetic pace saw 18 points tallied over the first 3:02 of the game. A fast-break triple from senior AKBAR HOFFMAN gave MSU a 14-9 lead before a pair of free throws from IRVING CALLENDER IV extended the lead to seven 5:32 into the game. The Red Hawks continued to put up points, and a DEAIREUS BROWN three pushed the lead to double figures midway through the frame.

MALACHI SMYTHE converted from the charity stripe to give MSU their biggest lead at 14 before a 9-0 Lions run made it a two-possession game. TCNJ closed to two on a Travis Jocelyn jumper, but STEVE BREEMAN and JUSTIN PORTER hit threes on consecutive trips down the floor to extend the lead to eight. The Lions closed the period on a 9-0 run to take a one-point halftime lead, as Randall Walko had seven points during the rally.

JOSEPH RADI began the second stanza with a triple, but a 13-2 spurt by the Lions put the hosts in the driver's seat for good. Callender stopped the run with a three, but the lead hovered between eight and 10 points for a majority of the period. Brown and Hoffman capped off an 8-2 Red Hawk run with shots from behind the arc, but they were unable to get any closer. The Lions converted their free throws down the stretch to prevent any Red Hawks comeback hope.

Parham was effective from the field, shooting 9-of-13, while Hoffman recorded 17 points, including 4-of-8 from three. Brown poured in a season-high 15 points off the bench, going 5-of-6 from the field and adding four triples. Walko led all scorers with 38 points, including going a perfect 15-of-15 from the free-throw line. Jocelyn and Ryan Jensen each added 15 points for TCNJ.

The Red Hawks return to the Panzer Athletic Center on Wednesday, hosting New Jersey City University at 6 p.m. Montclair edged the Gothic Knights 85-83 back on December 11.