Jersey City, NJ – Senior guard Denzel Banks scored four of his 18 points during a late second-half run as New Jersey City University outlasted Montclair State, 69-66 at the John J. Moore Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon.

Senior guard Jason Battle added 11 points for NJCU (9-7, 6-3) scored 10 of the final 14 points to capture its third consecutive victory.

Sophomore guard AMARI MILLS scored 17 points, one shy of his career-high, for the Red Hawks (7-6, 4-5 NJAC), who had their two-game winning streak snapped with the loss. Senior IRVING CALLENDER IV recorded a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds.

MSU led 38-37 at the break, and the two were within four points of each other for the final 20 minutes. Montclair took a 62-58 lead with 3:01 to go as MIKE JACKSON hit a three-pointer. Kayton Darley closed the gap to two points on two foul shots with 1:34 remaining, with two by Banks 30 seconds later knotting the game at 62-62.

Banks scored on a layup following a Red Hawk miss, putting the Gothic Knights in front 54 seconds to play. Callender made one free throw to cut the deficit to 64-63. Battle hit one free throw with 36 seconds to play, with Banks grabbing a huge rebound off the second miss forcing Montclair to foul again. Battle made both extending the lead to 67-63.

Mills cut that back to a point hitting from behind the arc with 17 seconds left. Battle again added two more from the stripe to make it a 69-66 contest with five seconds.

Montclair State would get one last chance, but Jackson's three-pointer came up short.

FRANCISCO PAULINO, Jackson and KIERAN FLANAGAN each had eight points for MSU. Paulino grabbed eight rebounds with AMIR WILLIAMS recording five. KEYON PRYCE and DEVIN COOPER registered four assists each.

Montclair State is back home to begin the second half of its NJAC schedule on Wednesday, January 19. The Red Hawks welcome Kean University to the Panzer Athletic Center for an 8:00 pm tipoff.