Montclair, NJ – The #12 Montclair State University men's basketball team looks to remain hot as they travel to take on Rutgers-Newark on Saturday.
 
GAME INFO 
Tip-off from the Golden Dome is set for a 6:00 p.m. start time. Live coverage of the game can be found at montclairathletics.com 
 
LAST TIME OUT 
Montclair rolled past William Paterson on Wednesday by a score of 102-75. The Red Hawks (6-0, 2-0 NJAC) came out of the gate strong with seven of the first nine points, including a three from CRISTIAN NICHOLSON and buckets from JACOB MORALES and KABRIEN GOSS. After the Pioneers cut the game to one possession, Montclair rattled off 10 consecutive points over the next two minutes, capped off by a jumper from Goss to make the score 17-4 with 15:34 on the clock. After the two sides traded buckets the next two trips up the court, William Paterson went on a 14-7 run over the ensuing three and a half minutes to cut the game to six points at the halfway point of the stanza. Montclair countered with the next nine points over the following two minutes, capped off by back-to-back buckets from KEVIN BECK to vault the home side in front by 15 points. The Pioneers cut the deficit to 10 with 5:35 remaining in the opening period, immediately countered by a long distance shot from Goss. A minute later, Beck knocked down a three to reopen a 15-point advantage, which would later grow to 18 on a make from beyond the arc from Morales with 2:07 on the clock. Montclair grew the lead to a half-high 20 in the waning moments, but a jumper down the stretch from the visitors made the score at the break 55-37. William Paterson opened the second half with six of the first eight points to cut the deficit to 14 points 95 seconds in. The two sides battled over the next four minutes, as RYAN CASSELS hit a jumper to make the score 66-49 at the 14:25 mark. After the Pioneers cut the deficit to 12 shortly after, the Red Hawks rattled off eight of the next 10 points, sealed by a layup from AHMAD ROBERTSON, to surged back in front by 19 with the period approaching the midway point. Nicholson sank a three-point shot with 7:25 remaining to kick off an 11-4 scoring run over the next three minutes, led by a pair of long-distance shots from Morales, to once again push the Red Hawks out by 19. Montclair closed out the night with 13 of the final 14 points to seal their third consecutive home victory.
 
 
 
2025-26 TEAM LEADERS 
MONTCLAIR STATE (6-0, 2-0 NJAC) 
Points Per Game: JACOB MORALES, 25.8
Rebounds Per Game: JACOB MORALES, 5.0 
Field goal percentage: MYLES PRIMAS, .655
Three Point Percentage: JACOB MORALES, .508
Free throw Percentage: KABRIEN GOSS, .923
Assists: KABRIEN GOSS, 40
Steals: CRISTIAN NICHOLSON, 13
Blocks:  MYLES PRIMAS, 9
 
RUTGERS-NEWARK (2-5, 0-1 NJAC) 
Points Per Game: Ayden Brown, 20.6 
Rebounds Per Game: Ayden Brown, 5.6
Field goal percentage: Manny Rodriguez, .459 
Three Point Percentage: Ayden Brown, .418
Free throw Percentage: Ayden Brown, .838
Assists: Raheem Murray, 21
Steals: Ayden Brown, 12 
Blocks: Two Tied with 4 
 
SCOUTING RUTGERS-NEWARK 
The Scarlet Raiders enter this game with a 2-5 overall record and a 0-1 NJAC record after suffering a heartbreaking loss to New Jersey City in overtime, 83-79. Last season, Rutgers-Newark went 7-18 and 3-15 in NJAC play and missed out on the conference tournament. According to the 2025-26 NJAC Preseason Poll, they are slated to finish ninth in conference this season.
 
SERIES HISTORY 
This long-standing conference rivalry enters matchup number 119 on Saturday. Montclair holds the advantage at 73-45 and has won nine of the last 11 matchups they played against each other, including every matchup in Newark.  
 
LAST TIME OUT
The two teams met last time inside the Golden Dome on January 25 of this year, where Montclair came away with a 70-57 win.
 
UP NEXT 
Montclair will remain on the road when it travels to Ramapo for an NJAC Championship rematch from last season on Wednesday, December 10. Tip-off from Mahwah is set for 7:30 p.m.