Jersey City, NJ – The Montclair State University men's basketball team stormed back to take down New Jersey City University 89-85 in overtime on Wednesday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (17-6, 12-4 NJAC) kicked off the contest with a four-point advantage after the opening two minutes on eight consecutive points from JACOB MORALES. Montclair pushed the lead to 16-9 with 15:49 on the clock on three-point makes from KIERAN FLANAGAN and MIKE JACKSON. Jackson hit a free throw a minute later to make the lead eight before NJCU rattled off seven points in a row to cut the game to one.
• NJCU tied the contest at 23 with just under 11 minutes remaining in the opening stanza, but the Red Hawks answered with a bucket from Morales and a three from MYLES PRIMAS. The home side used a 8-0 scoring run over the next few minutes to take a three-point lead, but Montclair used eight of their own to surge back in front, 36-31, capped off on a make from beyond the arc from RYAN CASSELS.
• In the waning stages of the half, NJCU embarked on a 12-0 run to build a seven point lead, their largest of the frame, with 68 seconds on the clock. The two sides traded buckets in the final minute, but Montclair used a dunk from AHMAD ROBERTSON with four seconds on the clock to go into the break down five, 45-40.
• The Gothic Knights built a double-digit lead in the first five minutes of the second half, outscoring the Red Hawks 15-3 to go up 17 points. CHRISTIAN CEVIS answered on the next possession with a three, and Robertson used an and-one opportunity to cut the game to 11 points with 13 minutes on the clock. Montclair briefly dipped into single digits on a make from long distance from Morales at the 10:22 mark, but the home side reopened the double-digit lead shortly after.
• KABRIEN GOSS sunk a three-pointer to bring the Red Hawks within single digits again with eight minutes on the clock, and Morales hit a jumper a minute later to make the margin seven. With just under six minutes left, Morales connected on a shot from beyond the arc, and Flanagan sliced for a layup in the paint to cut the deficit to four with 5:07 on the clock. 
• With the score 73-68, Jackson converted two free throws with just over two minutes remaining to bring Montclair within one possession. Flanagan used another layup with 45 seconds on the clock to make the deficit one, and after a free throw from NJCU, Robertson leveled the contest with four seconds and counting on a layup to force a bonus period.
• In a very tight overtime, Morales put Montclair up on a layup just over a minute in, but the Gothic Knights used four-straight to take a lead of their own at the halfway point. Goss hit a three on the next possession to swing the lead back in favor of Montclair, and Robertson threw down a dunk to make the margin three. NJCU came within one, but Montclair used a three from Flanagan and two free throws from Jackson to go up six. The visitors closed out the contest with key makes from the line to seal the victory.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Morales led the way with a game-high 26 points on 10 makes from the field, including four from beyond the arc. He has eclipsed 20 points in seven contests this season, including four of his last six. 
• The junior is one three-point make away from tying the single season record of 85, set by Steven Breeman during the 2022-23 season.
• Flanagan notched 16 points, six assists, and four boards for the night, reaching double-digit scoring for the third time in his last four games.
• Robertson (14 points) and Jackson (13 points) rounded out the group in double-figures for Montclair.
• The Red Hawks shot 49 percent from the field and 45 from beyond the arc for the game. 
• Montclair has won nine of its last 10 contests dating back to January 11. They sit atop the NJAC with 12 wins with two games to play. The Red Hawks have won 12 or more games in league play in each of the past three seasons, their longest streak in program history.

FROM THE COURT

"Gritty team win. Proud of our guys' fight and connectivity all night. They competed and responded in every situation. A complete team win, every guy contributed and I thought we showed a ton of perseverance for 45 minutes." - Head Coach Justin Potts

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will wrap up their regular season road slate with a clash against Kean on Saturday, February 15. Tip-off from Union, NJ is scheduled for 1:00 PM.