Reading, PA – On a buzzer-beating shot by JACOB MORALES, the #23 Montclair State University men's basketball team edged Alvernia 93-91 on Saturday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (3-0) battled the Wolves early, as a Morales layup off a feed from CRISTIAN NICHOLSON gave them a slim 6-5 advantage after the opening two minutes. Alvernia embarked on a 12-2 extended run over the next seven-plus minutes to surge out to a nine-point lead as the stanza approached its halfway point. 
• RYAN CASSELS ended the surge with a three-pointer, but back-to-back buckets from the home side vaulted them in front double-figures, 22-11, with 9:47 on the clock. AHMAD ROBERTSON tallied four points over the next minute to help trim the deficit back to nine, but the Wolves held around that range until they went back up double-figures with six and a half on the clock.
• Montclair clawed back again with a 8-3 run over the ensuing three minutes, led by five points from Morales, to make the margin two possessions at 34-28 with the half coming down the wire. The Wolves nudged their advantage back to double-figures with 92 seconds remaining, but three-pointers from KEVIN BECK and Morales in the waning moments helped make the halftime deficit eight for the visitors.
• Coming out of the break, the Red Hawks climbed to within five points over the opening 90 seconds before Alvernia countered with eight consecutive markers of their own to surge in front by 13 with 16 minutes later. With the Wolves leading 63-48 at the 12:13 mark, Morales answered with a pair of layups and a CHRISTIAN CEVIS three-point make in between to cut the margin to eight. On the ensuing possession, ANDREW MARTIN came away with a steal and eventually converted a bucket on the other end to force a timeout.
• Following the Alvernia stoppage, the Red Hawks continued to push back into the game. Led by nine points from MASON THEAR off the bench, Montclair embarked on a six-minute stretch where they outscored the Wolves 21-15 to equalize at 78. Morales and Beck combined for back-to-back buckets to push the Red Hawks in front 83-79 with 3:17 on the clock. Trailing by two under two minutes, Robertson tallied consecutive layups, with Beck connecting on a three to make the lead five. Alvernia leveled again at 91 with 21 seconds remaining, as Morales hit a pull-up jumper to beat the buzzer on the game's final possession. 

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Morales finished the game with a team-high 32 points, hitting 11 shots and sinking seven free throws. It marked the fourth time in his Montclair career he surpassed 30 points.
• Robertson amassed a season-best 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the field.
• Nicholson orchestrated the offense with a career-best nine assists for the Red Hawks. He has recorded eight or more assists in two of his first three collegiate appearances.
• The Red Hawks erupted for 58 points in the second half, their most in a single period this season. They shot 63 percent from the floor and 55 percent from beyond the arc en route to the road victory.
• Montclair has opened the season with three consecutive victories in back-to-back campaigns, marking the third time in four years.

FROM THE COURT

"Guys just kept fighting today, they stayed connected and found a way. It was a great college basketball game that took all 40 minutes. We got some great contributions off the bench from Mason, Kevin, Ahmad and Ryan, and Jake made a big time shot." - Head Coach Justin Potts

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will host Gettysburg in their 2025-26 home opener on Wednesday, November 19. Tip-off from the Panzer Athletic Center is scheduled for 7:00 PM.