Farmingdale, NY – Powered by a strong shooting second half, the Montclair State University Men's Basketball team notched a 79-62 opening night victory over the University of Hartford on Friday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Red Hawks (1-0) opened the season on the night's opening possession with a three-pointer from KEITH ALLEN off a feed from CRISTIAN NICHOLSON. Hartford countered with a 10-0 run over the next six-plus minutes to build a seven-point advantage up until the 12:33 mark of the opening stanza, where it was halted by a pull-up jumper from Allen. His make would spark 11-straight from Montclair, headlined by four different scorers, to leap back in front 14-10 at the half's midway point. The two sides traded baskets over the next two minutes, with both defenses tightening up until the 6:14 mark, where a MATT MIKULKA three made the margin five.
- Hartford trimmed the gap to one possession at the five-minute mark, but free throws from Mikulka and MYLES PRIMAS would extend the lead to 23-16 just under 60 seconds later. On the ensuing possession, Nicholson forced a turnover and would notch a layup on the other end to expand the advantage to a half-high nine. Montclair continued to build on their lead over the next few minutes, as KEVIN BECK would extend the gap to double-digits with 1:45 on the clock. The run continued, as KEITH MENCY and ANDREW MARTIN each recorded layups as the half approached its final minute, with a pair of points from the Hawks making the halftime score 34-21.
- After the two sides traded buckets to open the second frame, Beck drained a three to balloon the lead to 16 on the next possession. Primas registered a layup to nudge the margin even higher, with Hartford countering with a three at the 17-minute mark to answer. Nicholson answered on the next possession with a three of his own on a pass from MASON THEAR, but the Hawks scored 11 of the next 13 over a two-minute span to make the score 46-37 with just under 14 minutes remaining. Beck halted the run with a driving layup, but Hartford continued to cut into the gap, making it a two-possession game at the 11:36 mark.
- Montclair extended their lead and broke the game open over the next four and a half minutes, rattling off the contest's next 13 points, capped off by a layup from Martin off a feed from Mikulka with 7:12 remaining. The Red Hawks would push the advantage back to 18 on multiple occasions on buckets from JAHMIR PAYOUTE and Mikulka, later going up by 20 for the first time with just under six minutes remaining on another layup from Payoute. ROWAN MILLER gave Montclair its largest lead shortly after on a three-pointer, with a 11-4 spurt from the Hawks trimming the difference to 14 with just over two minutes remaining. The Red Hawks closed out the night with five of the final seven points for their first victory of the campaign.
INSIDE THE RESULTS
- Beck led the way for Montclair with a career night, pouring in a game and career high 16 points to go along with a career-high five rebounds and three steals. He shot 6-for-8 from the field, hitting a pair of threes.
- Nicholson was close behind, collecting 15 points, five assists, and four rebounds. Primas added 11 points and six boards, with Mikulka the final Red Hawk in double figures with 10 points in his collegiate debut.
- Martin put in a quality performance off the bench for Montclair, tallying six points and a career-high nine rebounds.
- The Red Hawks shot 54 percent in the second half, including a 42 percent clip from beyond the arc. Montclair held a 10-point advantage in the paint for the night, out-rebounding Hartford by six.
- Montclair has won on opening night in each of the last seven seasons dating back to 2020.
FROM THE COURT
"Proud of our effort. I thought we played with great energy and intensity, and we got a lot out of the press and did some good things defensively. I thought guys settled in for the second half and did a really good job of sharing the ball. We need to get some rest and refocus for a good test tomorrow." - Head Coach Justin Potts
UP NEXT
The Red Hawks will take on Fitchburg State in the Championship Game of the Farmingdale State Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday, November 7. Tip-off from Farmingdale, NY is scheduled for 4:30 PM.
