Montclair, NJ – The #12 Montclair State University men's basketball team will continue to add to its strong start in the NJAC as it hosts William Paterson University at Panzer Athletic Center on Wednesday.
GAME INFO
Montclair State is set to play on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Live coverage of the game can be found at montclairathletics.com
LAST TIME OUT
Montclair took down Rowan 100-86 in its 2025-26 New Jersey Athletic Conference opener on Tuesday night at the Panzer Athletic Center. The Red Hawks (5-0, 1-0 NJAC) traded baskets with Rowan early, as back-to-back three-point makes from
KABRIEN GOSS and
MASON THEAR pushed the score to 8-4 after the opening three-plus minutes. Rowan answered with the next five to gain a slim one-point lead as the two sides battled to a level 13-13 score with 13:36 on the clock. Montclair countered with a 10-2 scoring run over the next two minutes, including a pair of three-point makes from
RYAN CASSELS, to vault in front 23-15 with under 12 on the clock. After Rowan came to within five as the half approached its halfway point, the Red Hawks exploded for 13 of the next 15 points to surge out to a 16-point advantage with 6:23 remaining, capped off by a long-distance shot from Goss. The Profs trimmed the margin to 13 two minutes later and would later get to 40-28 with 3:16 on the clock.
CRISTIAN NICHOLSON connected on a shot from beyond the arc on the next possession to counter, with
JACOB MORALES knocking in a three of his own to increase the lead to 16 with just over two minutes on the clock. The Profs tallied four of the final six points of the period to cut the deficit to 15 at halftime. The two sides battled to an even 12 points each over the first five minutes before
CHRISTIAN CEVIS converted a layup to push the Red Hawks in front by 17. Shortly after, Thear found Cassels for another long-distance basket to make the score 65-48 with 14:37 on the clock. Back-to-back buckets from the Profs cut into the deficit before Morales hit another three coming out of a timeout to provide the counter, along with a Cassels layup. Montclair continued to add to their advantage, embarking on a 16-7 scoring run over four minutes. Led by five points from Nicholson and Morales each, the Red Hawks vaulted ahead by 24 and forced a Rowan timeout on a three from
AHMAD ROBERTSON with 8:16 remaining. The visitors climbed back to within 16 with just under three minutes remaining and would later call a timeout with 2:12 on the clock with the score 98-82. Montclair would close the contest shortly after for its first conference victory of the campaign.
2025-26 TEAM LEADERS
MONTCLAIR STATE (5-0, 1-0 NJAC)
Points Per Game:
JACOB MORALES, 25.2
Rebounds Per Game:
JACOB MORALES, 5.0
Field goal percentage:
KUNGA TSERING, .636
Three Point Percentage:
JACOB MORALES, .522
Free throw Percentage:
KABRIEN GOSS, .909
Assists:
KABRIEN GOSS, 31
Steals:
CRISTIAN NICHOLSON, 11
Blocks:
MYLES PRIMAS, 7
WILLIAM PATERSON (4-2, 0-1 NJAC)
Points Per Game: Jack Gobel, 18.8
Rebounds Per Game: Delani Hyde, 5.7
Field goal percentage: Charles Graves, .600
Three Point Percentage: Delani Hyde, .571
Free throw Percentage: Josiah Carey .875
Assists: Josiah Carey, 21
Steals: Jack Gobel, 9
Blocks: Fred Orock Jr., 7
SCOUTING WILLIAM PATERSON
The Pioneers enter this conference rivalry with a 4-2 overall record and a 0-1 record in the NJAC after an 85-68 defeat this past Tuesday at the hands of #20 TCNJ. In 2024-25, WPU posted a 6-19 overall record and a 2-16 record in the NJAC that saw them miss the conference tournament. According to the 2025-26 NJAC Preseason Poll, they are projected to place 10
th this season.
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 189
th time Montclair State and William Paterson have faced off in their history. Montclair has got the best of this series as they have 112 wins in total compared to William Paterson's 77. The Red Hawks have also won each of the last eight matchups.
UP NEXT
Montclair is set to travel to Newark as they will face off against Rutgers-Newark on Saturday, December 6
th at 6:00 p.m.
