Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State men's basketball team powered past Rutgers-Camden 97-72 to earn their third-straight conference victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (12-6, 7-4 NJAC) used an early offensive surge, including nine-straight points, to open up a 10-point advantage at the 14 minute mark of the first half.
• Rutgers-Camden cut the deficit to 19-16 over the next three minutes, but Montclair responded with five points from MIKE JACKSON and a layup from AHMAD ROBERTSON to boost the lead back to 10 at the halfway point of the frame.
• KEYON PRYCE converted on a layup with 7:15 on the clock to give the Red Hawks their largest lead of the half at 34-19. They later expanded the lead to 17 on free throws from FRANCISCO PAULINO two minutes later.
• The Montclair advantage reached as high as 22 as the first half came to a close, as Jackson hit a jumper with 1:13 remaining. The Scarlet Raptors scored the final four points of the half to make the halftime margin 52-34.
• Rutgers-Camden cut the margin to 13 four minutes into the second half, and got within 12 with 13:34 remaining. Montclair struck for the next nine points, a run capped off by a layup from AMIR WILLIAMS to make the score 70-49.
• The visitors made one final push as they cut the Montclair lead down to 11 with 6:49 on the clock, but the Red Hawks pushed the advantage back to 20 two minutes later.
• Montclair did not let the lead shrink below 18 the rest of the way as it closed out the game for its third-straight NJAC victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Jackson led all scorers with 23 points. The guard is averaging 26 points over his last three games. 
• SAMAR ABDULLAH finished with 15 points, all coming on three-point shots. Paulino tallied 12 points, and Pryce finished with 10.
• QUANTAVIOUS ROGERS was the final Red Hawk in double figures with 11 in 16 minutes off the bench. 
• Montclair shot 49 percent from the field and 42 from three-point range. The Red Hawks defense forced 29 turnovers, including 20 in the first half.
• The Red Hawks are averaging 96 points per game over their last four contests. Saturday's game marked the fifth time this season Montclair eclipsed the 90-point mark, and the fourth time in regulation.
• 15 different student-athletes for Montclair appeared in the contest.

FROM THE COURT

Coming Soon.

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will travel to face Rutgers-Newark on Wednesday, January 24. Tip-off from Newark, NJ is scheduled for 8:00 pm.