Union, NJ – Behind 29 points from JACOB MORALES, the Montclair State University men's basketball team topped Kean 97-78 for its third-straight victory on Saturday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (18-6, 13-4 NJAC) jumped out to a 12-4 advantage after the opening four minutes, led by two buckets from Morales. After Kean cut the deficit to two possessions, Morales sunk a three-pointer at the 13:41 mark to push the lead to nine. Kean cut the game to five, but Montclair used threes from Morales and KABRIEN GOSS to surge out to an 11-point lead approaching the halfway mark of the stanza.
• The Cougars crept to within single digits, but Morales hit another long distance shot to expand the lead to 12 with nine and a half minutes on the clock. Kean trimmed the lead to seven, as Montclair countered a few minutes later on buckets from Morales and MIKE JACKSON to push the advantage back up to 12 at the 6:13 mark. 
• With the score 38-26, the home side rattled off seven consecutive points to cut the deficit to five with 4:27 remaining in the half. Later in the period, with the teams separated by six, Montclair used two free throws from Morales and a three from HENRY MEYERS to go back up by 11. Kean hit two shots from the line to go into the halftime break down nine, 46-37.
• Morales used a three and a layup in the early moments of the second half to increase the Montclair margin to 14 with 17 minutes remaining. After Kean briefly shaved the deficit to single digits, the Red Hawks moved the lead back to 13 on another long distance shot by Morales. Montclair used an 11-2 scoring run over a three minute span to balloon the margin up to 20 points, capped off by a layup from KIERAN FLANAGAN.
• Kean used a push midway through the half to trim the margin to 16 points, however the Red Hawks had another response, going back up 21 on a three from Flanagan with 5:12 on the clock. The Cougars could not get closer than 19 until the final two minutes of the game, but the Red Hawks closed out the crucial late season road victory.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Morales totaled a game-high 29 points on 11-for-14 shooting from the field and five makes from beyond the arc. He has totaled 20 or more points in three of his last four contests and has nine throughout the campaign.
• Flanagan totaled a season-best 18 points, marking his third consecutive contest with 15 or more points. He added a season-high nine assists along with six rebounds.
• Jackson was the final Red Hawk in double figures with 17 points.
• Montclair shot 65 percent from the field for the game, including a 60 percent mark from three. 
• The Red Hawks have won 10 of their last 11 contests dating back to January 11. They sit atop the NJAC with 13 wins going into their final contest with a chance to clinch the 2024-25 regular season title on February 19.

FROM THE COURT

"Great team effort. Our guys competed for 40 minutes and stayed connected all day. I thought our leaders did a great job of keeping guys focused, committed, and playing with energy." - Head Coach Justin Potts

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will return home for Senior Night to take on The College of New Jersey on Wednesday, February 19. Tip-off from the Panzer Athletic Center is scheduled for 7:30 PM.