Middletown, PA – The #23 Montclair State University men's basketball team raced past Dickinson 97-63 in their season opener on Saturday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (1-0) received consecutive layups from KUNGA TSERING and CRISTIAN NICHOLSON, capped by another from Tsering to jump out to a 11-9 advantage after four and a half minutes. On the ensuing trip up the court, KABRIEN GOSS connected on a three to extend the lead to five. After Dickinson trimmed the contest to 14-12, Montclair embarked on a 19-3 scoring run over the next four minutes to balloon the advantage to 17 with just over nine minutes remaining in the period, capped by a long-range shot from JACOB MORALES and free throw from MYLES PRIMAS.
• With the score 33-17, Goss tallied another three, and MASON THEAR registered a bucket from beyond the arc as the Red Hawks vaulted out by 21 with 3:06 on the clock in the first half. Buckets from Primas and AHMAD ROBERTSON down the stretch made the margin 43-23 with a minute remaining, as Thear notched another long-range make before Dickinson scored in the final moments to make the halftime score 46-27.
• Goss tallied back-to-back buckets along with a steal coming out of the break to nudge the Red Hawks in front by 23. After Dickinson cut the margin to 52-32, the combination of Morales, Primas, and Thear sparked a quick six-point spurt to put Montclair in front by 26 two minutes into the stanza. RYAN CASSELS sunk a three-pointer with just under 14 on the clock, with CHRISTIAN CEVIS slotting a fastbreak layup to put the Red Hawks up by 31 shortly after.
• As the second half reached its halfway point, Goss connected on a layup and Thear converted an and-one opportunity as Montclair built a 82-46 lead. On the ensuing possession, SHANE RYAN recorded a steal leading to a three-pointer on the other end from Thear to give the Red Hawks their largest lead of the night at 39. Dickinson battled back and trimmed the deficit to 32 with 2:24 remaining, but Ryan notched a layup in the waning moments to make the final margin 34.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Goss led the way offensively for Montclair with 16 points, one off his career-best, to go along with seven assists and a pair of steals.
• Thear, in his collegiate debut, also matched the team-high of 16 points along with four rebounds and a trio of steals.
• Morales finished the night 5-for-7 from the field and 4-for-5 from long distance to total 14 points. Primas and Tsering were the other Red Hawks in double-figures, accumulating 10 for the contest.
• As a team, Montclair shot 53 percent from the field and 37 percent from beyond the arc. They forced 31 turnovers defensively and generated 34 points on the other end. 
• The Red Hawks held a 45-13 advantage in bench points, with 14 different players seeing the court.
• Montclair has won each of its last six season openers dating back to the 2020-21 campaign, with all being double-digit triumphs.

FROM THE COURT

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UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will take on Penn State Harrisburg in Day Two of the Penn State Harrisburg Tip-Off Classic on Sunday, November 9. Tip-off from Middletown, PA is scheduled for 3:00 PM.