Montclair, NJ – Senior guard Abe Kromah scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Rutgers-Newark picked up a 66-63 victory over Montclair State at the Panzer Athletic Center on Wednesday evening.

Senior guard Quincy Rutherford added 13 points and was one of four players in double-figures for the Scarlet Raiders (15-7, 12-4 NJAC), who remained tied with Rowan for second-place in the NJAC standings with two games to play. Both squads are a game-back of Stockton (13-3 NJAC).

Dante Ralph had 12 points and six rebounds for Rutgers-Newark, which also snapped a four-game losing streak to MSU. Jamir Patterson totaled 10 points and seven rebounds.

Senior forward STEVEN BREEMAN scored 20 points in the second half for Montclair. The loss dropped the Red Hawks to 12-8 on the season, 9-7 in the NJAC. Montclair State is currently in fourth place along with Kean, New Jersey City, and William Paterson, all a game behind at 8-8.

On Saturday, Montclair faces New Jersey City with a 3:00 pm tipoff at the Panzer Athletic Center.

The last time the two played, the Red Hawks escaped with a 62-59 victory, and on Wednesday, it seemed as though they were that close the entire way. Rutgers-Newark held the most significant advantage of the game at 55-48, with 4:31 left after Levi Holton scored on a layup. MSU answered with a three by freshman MIKE JACKSON, and an exchange of baskets, the last a three by Montclair's IRVING CALLENDER IV with 2:36 made the score 57-54.

Rutherford's layup at the other end pushed the lead back to five. However, Callender scored again, setting the margin at three points with 1:22 left. Kromah connected with 59 ticks for a 61-56 lead, but again Montclair answered as KIERAN FLANAGAN scored eight seconds later.

Rutgers-Newark dribbled time off the clock before Russell Ayala fired up a three from the corner with 28 seconds remaining. The shot misfired. However, Rutherford grabbed the rebound, and the Red Hawks fouled with 17 seconds. Kromah sank both attempts for a 63-58 Rutgers-Newark lead. Montclair got one back on a free throw by Breeman with 11 seconds.

Holton would make one foul shot with 10 seconds, but a GREG ECK three-pointer from the corner with five seconds drew Montclair within 64-62. Kromah was fouled on an ensuing inbound and hit both attempts with three seconds to play, pushing the lead to four. The Raiders fouled Flanagan on a half-court heave with one second left. But Montclair would only get one of the three attempts for what turned out to be the final margin.

Eck finished with 14 points for Montclair while Callender added 13 and nine rebounds. Jackson collected nine points.