Montclair, NJ- The #8 Montclair State University men's basketball team is on the road on Wednesday when it travels for an NJAC matchup at Rowan.
 
GAME INFO
Tip-off from the Esbjornson Gymnasium is set for 7:30 p.m. Live coverage of the game can be found at monclairstateathletics.com.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Montclair earned a hard-fought victory over Kean on the road Saturday afternoon by a score of 106-94. The Red Hawks (16-0, 9-0 NJAC) received back-to-back three-point shots from KABRIEN GOSS over the opening two minutes to build a two-possession lead that they would eventually balloon to 11-2 on a layup from ANDREW MARTIN and three from RYAN CASSELS. Kean countered with the game's next seven points to cut the deficit to two at the 15:20 mark of the half. The two sides battled within four points over the next five minutes before AHMAD ROBERTSON cut to the basket for a layup, and a three on the next trip up the court from Goss opened the lead to 20-15 at the midway point of the stanza. CRISTIAN NICHOLSON drained a long-distance attempt to push the difference to six, and a tip-in from KEVIN BECK forced a Cougars timeout with 8:57 on the clock. A few possessions later, a pair of layups from KUNGA TSERING vaulted the Red Hawks ahead by double-digits at 29-19. Montclair continued the 9-2 scoring run with another bucket from Tsering and corner three from MYLES PRIMAS with seven minutes in the period. The visitors continued to push offensively, scoring nine out of 11 points over a two-and-a-half-minute stretch to build a 16-point lead. Montclair outscored Kean by three over the final portion of the frame to make the score at the break 53-34. Robertson converted an and-one opportunity on the first possession of the second half to push the Red Hawks ahead by a game-high 22. Kean battled back with 11 of the next 16 to close the gap to 61-45 following the opening three minutes. The Red Hawks immediately halted the run with three of the next four baskets, including a pair of threes for Cassels. Over the ensuing three minutes, the home side amassed an 11-2 scoring stretch to bring the difference to 13 at the 12:25 mark of the game. After Kean cut the margin to 10 with just over eight minutes remaining, Goss and Primas combined for buckets on back-to-back possessions, with JACOB MORALES and Nicholson each notching a three-point make as part of a 10-1 explosion to go back up by 19. The Cougars would trim into the deficit before Nicholson drained another three with 3:41 on the clock. Kean scored 10 of the final 14 points, but the Red Hawks closed the contest out for their seventh road victory of the season.
 
TEAM LEADERS
MONTCLAIR STATE (16-0, 9-0 NJAC)
Points Per Game: JACOB MORALES, 19.3
Rebounds Per Game: JACOB MORALES, 6.6
Field goal percentage: KUNGA TSERING, .706
Three Point Percentage: Ryan Cassells, .479
Free throw Percentage: KABRIEN GOSS, .853
Assists: KABRIEN GOSS, 91
Steals: CRISTIAN NICHOLSON, 31
Blocks: MYLES PRIMAS, 16
 
ROWAN (4-12, 4-5 NJAC)
Points Per Game: Taz Cantey, 16.6
Rebounds Per Game: Khalil Baker, 6.6
 Field goal Percentage: Ife Okebiorun, .644
Three Point Percentage: Brycen Williams, .339
Free throw Percentage: Brycen Williams, .843
Assists: Taz Cantey, 49
Steals: Taz Cantey, 31
Blocks: Ife Okebiorun, 23
 
SCOUTING ROWAN
The Profs enter this matchup with a 4-12 record on the year and are sixth in the conference with a 4-5 NJAC record after handling Rutgers-Newark, 83-59 on Saturday. Rowan returned with 10 players from last year's squad, which went 12-14 overall and 9-9 in the conference and reached the NJAC quarterfinals, where they were bested by Stockton, 83-78. They were picked fourth in the 2025-26 NJAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll and received two first-place votes. 
 
SERIES HISTORY
Montclair and Rowan square off for the 139th time in their storied rivalry. Rowan has got the best of this series as they have 78 wins compared to Montclair's 61. Montclair State has taken three of the last four games, including the game in this season's series.
 
LAST MEETING
The Red Hawks and the Profs faced off last on February 15, 2025, where Montclair earned a 97-78 victory at home.
 
UP NEXT
 
Montclair State University is back at home inside the Panzer Athletic Center, where it squares off with Rutgers-Newark on Saturday, January 24 at 1:00 p.m.