Galloway, NJ – The Montclair State men's basketball staged a second-half rally but were topped by Stockton University 89-82 in New Jersey Athletic Conference action Saturday.
The Red Hawks raced out to an 8-1 advantage that was bookended by Breeman and
DEVIN COOPER triples. The Ospreys tallied the following seven points before
KEYON PRYCE stopped the run with a jumper. Cooper would hit another three with 11:15 left in the first to push the MSU lead to four at 21-17, and a Callender IV trey re-established the four-point lead with 7:57.
After the Callender IV, the Ospreys went on a 23-0 run spanning 4:03 to open a 19-point lead. Rookie
MIKE JACKSON stopped the spurt with a three and then ended the period with a three on a fast-break to trim the deficit to 19, entering halftime.
Stockton shot a blistering 75.0% (21-of-28) from the floor in the first 20 minutes while holding the Red Hawks to 13-of-29 and 9-of-21 from behind the arc.
The two sides traded baskets opening the second stanza before an Alan Glover jumper in the paint sent Stockton in front by a game-high 23 with 13:31 to go.
AMARI MILLS kick-started an 8-0 Red Hawk run with a three, and a three-pointer by Breeman sent the margin down to single digits. Cooper and
KIERAN FLANAGAN drained free throws that brought Montclair within five with under six minutes left.
The Red Hawks could not get any closer than five, as a 9-2 Stockton run inflated the gap back to 10 points. Montclair continued to battle, using a 6-1 rally to cut the lead to five once more. Stockton closed the game out with two free throws from DJ Campbell to preserve the victory.
Callender added seven rebounds while Cooper had 14 points and six assists in the setback Jackson led the Red Hawk reserve unit with nine points and six boards in 13 minutes. Kadian Dawkins, Jordan Williams, and Luciano Lubrano scored in double-figures for the Ospreys.
The Red Hawks close out their 2021 home slate Saturday as they host Misericordia at 1 pm.
