Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University men's basketball team edged Stockton 91-86 on Saturday afternoon at the Panzer Athletic Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (16-6, 11-4 NJAC) struck for the game's opening five points on a three-point make from MIKE JACKSON and a layup in the paint from MYLES PRIMAS. After the Ospreys crept to within one point at 7-6, Montclair rattled off 13 consecutive points, highlighted by two makes from beyond the arc by JACOB MORALES, to go up by 13 nine minutes in.
• Shortly after, the Red Hawks pushed the advantage to 18 on another layup from Primas and three from Morales to make the score 28-10 with 6:57 remaining in the opening stanza. Montclair pushed the lead past 20 points with three and a half on the clock on a three from CHRISTIAN CEVIS, and the two sides traded buckets on the next two possessions. 
• HENRY MEYERS knocked in back-to-back trips up the floor to force a Stockton timeout, up 22 points. Stockton began to close the gap, as they trimmed the deficit to 17 going into the halftime break. An and-one opportunity coming out of the half brought the Ospreys to within 14 to kick off the second stanza.
• With 15:33 on the clock, Stockton hit back-to-back buckets to make the margin 11 points, and after a three on the other end from AHMAD ROBERTSON, the Ospreys strung together five more points to cut the game to single digits at 57-48 with just under 14 minutes remaining.
• Trailing by 11 shortly after, Stockton rattled off nine-straight points to come within one possession, 59-57, approaching the midway point of the second half. Montclair responded on the next possession with a three-pointer from KABRIEN GOSS, and Robertson converted a layup after Jackson forced a turnover defensively on the ensuing trip up the floor.
• Jackson hit a pair of free throws later on in the period to reopen a 12-point lead for Montclair with 5:47 remaining, but the Ospreys once again shaved it down with a run of eight-straight points over the next minute. KIERAN FLANAGAN sunk two free throws with just under two minutes remaining to make the margin eight, but Stockton made one final surge, cutting the game's margin to three with 61 seconds left on the clock.
• Robertson went two-for-two at the line with five seconds left to make it a two-possession lead, and forced a turnover on Stockton's next possession to seal the home victory and regular season sweep of Stockton./

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Morales led the way for Montclair with 19 points, marking his 17th consecutive game with double-figure point totals. He is two three-point makes away from setting a new single season record for the program, currently one behind Steven Breeman's 81 during the 2022-23 season.
• Flanagan notched 15 points, a season-high nine assists, and four rebounds in the contest. Jackson finished with 14 points and five boards, with Goss rounding out the group in double-figures with 12.
• Defensively, Montclair forced 22 turnovers and generated 20 points off of them. They held a 12-point advantage in bench points, led by Robertson with nine.
• The Red Hawks have won eight of their last nine contests dating back to January 11, and recorded their first regular season sweep of Stockton since the 2010-11 campaign.

FROM THE COURT

"Another great environment in Panzer. Two good teams competing at a high level which created a great college basketball game. Proud of our guys energy connectivity and ability to respond. Thought Kieran gave us some great leadership all day and our depth really showed. Overall a great team win." - Head Coach Justin Potts

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will hit the road to face NJCU on Wednesday, February 12. Tip-off from Jersey City, NJ, is scheduled for 7:30 PM.