Glassboro, NJ – The Montclair State men's basketball team was edged in overtime by Rowan 98-88 on Wednesday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (9-6, 4-4 NJAC) opened the game by scoring nine of the first 12 points, including a layup and a pair of free throws from SAMAR ABDULLAH. After Rowan cut the deficit to one at the 13-minute mark of the half, Montclair reopened a two-possession lead on jump shots from MIKE JACKSON and KEYON PRYCE.
• Less than three minutes later, the Profs cut the margin to one again, but Jackson responded with a three-point shot. Rowan then went on a 9-1 run to open their largest lead of the contest at 29-25 with 7:28 remaining in the half.
• After Abdullah connected on a three-pointer with seven minutes on the clock, the two sides embarked on a stretch that lasted six and a half minutes in which they were separated by only one possession. AHMAD ROBERTSON scored six points in the final minute of the first half to make the halftime score 46-41 in favor of the visitors.
• Rowan brought the deficit down to three after the opening two minutes of the second half. Montclair responded with a stretch in which it held the Profs at multiple possessions for the next four minutes. 
• The home side tied the game with just under 13 minutes remaining. The Red Hawks came back with three-point shots from KUNGA TSERING and Abdullah on the next two possessions.
• Montclair took an 84-79 lead with 3:14 remaining on a three from KYREE HENRY, but Rowan was able to tie the game up with 48 seconds remaining on a pair of free throws to force overtime.
• With the score 88-85, Rowan used a 10-4 scoring run in the final 3:26 of overtime to seal the game.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Abdullah led the Red Hawks with 17 points to go along with seven rebounds in 29 minutes off the bench. All three totals are season-highs for the sophomore, with the 17 points being a new career-high.
• FRANCISCO PAULINO tallied 15 points, setting a new career-high. Henry and Robertson were the other two Red Hawks in double-figure scoring, each with 10 points.
• The two sides have combined for 814 points over their last four meetings, averaging 203 combined points per contest. Three of those four have gone to overtime.
• Montclair outscored Rowan 56-19 in bench points and held a slight 49-43 edge on the boards.

FROM THE COURT
"Great NJAC game. Proud of our guys effort and fight tonight. Thought we stayed connected and battled for 45 minutes. Got some great contributions off the bench just came up a few possessions short." Head Coach Justin Potts. 

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will return home to host Kean University on Saturday, January 13. Tip-off at the Panzer Athletic Center is scheduled for 1 pm.