Montclair, NJ- The #10 Montclair State Men's Basketball team enters 2026 undefeated and looks to continue its red-hot start into the new year in a Sunday afternoon showdown against Albertus Magnus
 
GAME INFO
Tip-off from the Panzer Athletic Center is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Live coverage of the game can be found at monclairstateathletics.com.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Montclair closed out 2025 on a high note as they held on for a 92-87 win against the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) on Wednesday afternoon. The Red Hawks (11-0) traded baskets with the visitors over the opening two minutes before rattling off seven consecutive points, including five from CRISTIAN NICHOLSON, to take an 11-4 lead at the 15:55 mark. A few possessions later, Montclair would expand its advantage to double-digits on a long-distance shot from RYAN CASSELS. The Blue Jays cut the deficit in half but were immediately met with three-pointers from KABRIEN GOSS and Nicholson to make the score 22-11 with just under 12 minutes remaining. Montclair maintained its lead as the half progressed, as Goss found JACOB MORALES for a layup to increase the margin to 11 at 32-21 with under seven minutes to go. Coming out of a Saint Joseph timeout, each side converted a shot for the ensuing five trips up the court, with the visitors trimming the deficit to single digits at eight shortly after. With 3:58 on the clock, Goss found Morales again, this time from long distance, to push Montclair ahead 43-32. The Red Hawks led by as many as 12 in the waning stages of the period, taking a 50-43 edge into the halftime break. Early in the second stanza, Goss sank a long-distance shot, and Nicholson converted a pair of free throws to extend the lead to double-digits once again. The Blue Jays amassed seven of the next nine points over the next 3:13 to come within two possessions with 14:27 on the clock. Montclair provided another immediate counter, as Goss and Cassels each notched threes to vault the home side ahead by 11. Saint Joseph embarked on a 17-6 extended run that lasted six minutes to level the contest at 69 with 7:16 remaining. The Red Hawks responded with seven of the next nine points, capped off by a layup from Morales, to go up 76-71 with six minutes on the clock. As the sides battled down the stretch, Nicholson hit a free throw to make the score 84-80 with 2:46 remaining. Saint Joseph hit shots on back-to-back possessions to take the lead for the first time, but Morales drove to the basket to push the Red Hawks back in front as the half went under two minutes. The layup from Morales sparked an 8-2 run over the remainder of the afternoon, as the Red Hawks converted all six of their free throws to seal the hard-fought nonconference victory.
INSIDE THE RESULTS
 
 
 
TEAM LEADERS
MONTCLAIR STATE (11-0)
Points Per Game: JACOB MORALES, 21.2
Rebounds Per Game: JACOB MORALES, 6.5
Field goal percentage: KUNGA TSERING, .759
Three Point Percentage: MYLES PRIMAS, .467
Free throw Percentage: KABRIEN GOSS, .913
Assists: KABRIEN GOSS, 66
Steals: CRISTIAN NICHOLSON, 23
Blocks: MYLES PRIMAS, 12
 
ALBERTUS MAGNUS (8-4)
Points Per Game: Ta'zhon Daniels, 20.5
Rebounds Per Game: Avery Hinnant, 6.7
Field goal percentage: Rodrick Pearson, .571
Three Point Percentage: Ta'zhon Daniels, .485d
Free throw Percentage: DJ Hamilton, 1.000
Assists: Ray Ford Jr., 48
Steals: Ray Ford Jr., 21
Blocks: Avery Hinnant, 17
 
SCOUTING ALBERTUS MAGNUS
The Falcons enter the Sunday slate with an 8-4 overall record and were winners of seven in a row before they were halted in their last game by #1 Trinity (Conn.), 92-56 on Wednesday. Last season, Albertus Magnus compiled a 16-11 overall record with an 11-3 record on the GNAC. They qualified for the conference tournament as the #4 seed. They downed Norwich in the quarterfinals, 72-57, before falling to Saint Joseph (Me.), 85-71, in the semifinals. According to the 2025-26 Preseason Poll, the Falcons are projected to finish third in the conference this season.
 
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the third-straight year these two teams face off with each other in a series that started in 2023. Both teams have taken a game from one another.
 
LAST MEETING
Last season, on November 13, Montclair went on the road and earned a narrow 93-89 win against Albertus Magnus.
 
UP NEXT
 
Montclair State University will return to NJAC play for the rest of the season and will hit the road for a matchup at New Jersey City on Wednesday, January 7, at 7:30 p.m.