Glassboro, NJ –
TIM ALGENIO scored a career-high 18 points, but the Montclair State men's basketball team was defeated by Rowan University 94-86 in New Jersey Athletic Conference play Saturday.
The Red Hawks (9-13, 7-8 NJAC) and the Profs (11-11, 7-8 NJAC) split the two meetings this season. MSU held on for an 89-84 victory inside the Panzer Athletic Center back on January 11.
Montclair opened the game with 11 of the first 16 points, with
JUSTIN PORTER,
EDDIE EMEDOH, and
STEVE BREEMAN all hit three-pointers. The Profs battled back to level the contest at 16 before using a 10-2 spurt to take control and construct a 29-24 advantage. Algenio hit two threes during an 11-0 MSU rally, stretching the lead to eight, but five straight Jerry Price points whittled the edge down to three.
NATE NAHIRNY and Algenio knocked down threes late in the half to give MSU their largest advantage of the half at nine, but Rowan ended the frame with four straight markers, including a Matt Green triple with two seconds left. MSU was able to take a 45-40 edge entering the halftime break.
Algenio led the Red Hawks with 10 first-half points, including a perfect 3-for-3 from deep. Both sides shot over 42% from the floor, while Rowan had 10 turnovers compared to the Red Hawks seven.
The Profs were able to tie the game at 50, holding Montclair to just five points over the first 6:28 of the second stanza. Junior
JOSEPH RADI stopped the run with a three-pointer, but Rowan was able to jump back in front on a three from Austin Kearney with 12:06 remaining. Kearney converted a fast-break layup nearly two minutes later, stretching the hosts lead to eight at 64-56.
The Red Hawks continued to fight, battling back to take a 70-69 lead with just six minutes as Porter notched a steal and a fast-break layup. The see-saw battle saw several ties and lead changes over the next few minutes before
JALEN PARHAM tossed back-to-back dunks to give MSU a 79-77 lead with just 2:55 to go. A 17-7 run by the Profs after the second Parham dunk ended the game, with Rowan converting nine free-throws during that stretch to close out the affair.
Algenio added six assists to go along with his 18 points, while Parham and Nahirny combined for 33 points off the bench. Rowan held a 43-37 edge in rebounds, as Kearney notched a double-double of 19 points and 10 boards. Price recorded a game-high 25 points, with Green adding 18 in a reserve role.
Montclair State returns home on Wednesday, hosting Rutgers Newark at 8 pm inside the Panzer Athletic Center. The Red Hawks are looking to avenge a 58-29 setback against the Scarlet Raiders from earlier this season down in Newark.
