Camden, NJ- After suffering a conference defeat on Wednesday night, the Montclair State University Men's Basketball team (6-2, 3-2 NJAC) bounced back on Saturday afternoon to defeat NJAC foe Rutgers-Camden (5-6, 0-5 NJAC), 70-58.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams generated runs right off the bat. Montclair jumped out to a five-point lead with a MIKE JACKSON layup and a KIERAN FLANAGAN three-pointer but Rutgers-Camden answered right back to tie the contest 5-5. A Jackson three-pointer sparked a 7-0 run but a 6-0 run from the Scarlet Raiders cut the lead to 12-11 within the first five minutes of the contest.
• With a slight 14-13 advantage at the 11:39 timestamp in the first half, a pair of Jackson free throws started an 8-0 run for the Red Hawks to expand their lead, 22-13. The Scarlet Raptors rallied back to within three points at a 24-21 Red Hawk lead but Montclair capped off the half with a 10-0 run that gave them a 34-21 lead at half. JACOB MORALES, who hit two three-point balls down the stretch, headlined the final run.
• The second half started with both teams exchanging buckets. The game worked up to a 40-29 lead for Montclair before Rutgers-Camden generated a 13-3 run that slashed the lead to just three points at a 43-40 edge with 10:20 remaining in the game.
• The game reached a 47-44 score when a KABRIEN GOSS jumper sparked a 12-4 run to push Montclair up to a 59-48 edge with 4:33 left to go in the contest. The Red Hawks outscored the Scarlet Raptors down the stretch, 11-10, and left Camden victorious, 70-59.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• JACOB MORALES was the spark plug for the Red Hawks today, generating 22 points on the day. He converted five-of-eight three-pointers while also leading the team with seven rebounds.
• Free throws became crucial for Montclair in the contest. They made 16-of-21 free throws in the contest, including 13-of-17 in the second half.
• The Red Hawks also came away with 19 points off turnovers, thanks to 11 steals. Five Montclair student-athletes saw two steals in the matchup.

FROM THE COURT

"Proud of our guys effort and toughness today, they kept responding in every situation. Great team win on the road." - Head Coach Justin Potts
 
UP NEXT

Montclair State University will head down to Fort Lauderdale, Florida for the Cruzin Classic. They will kick off the classic with a matchup against Roanoke on Friday, December 20. Tip-off for the game is slated for 4:00 pm.