Montclair, NJ – The #6 Montclair State University Men's Basketball team was edged by TCNJ 83-81 in the 2025-26 New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament Championship Game on Saturday afternoon at the Panzer Athletic Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (25-2) opened red hot from beyond the arc, as three-pointers from JACOB MORALES and KABRIEN GOSS gave the home side an early 6-4 edge. Goss drained another on the next trip up the floor and would extend the margin to six on his third long range shot of the game, making the score 12-6 two and a half minutes in. As the teams continued to trade baskets, CRISTIAN NICHOLSON connected on a three of his own to push the lead to seven shortly after. TCNJ used a 7-0 run over the next minute to vault into the lead, but a pair of makes from the home side helped them regain a four-point advantage. Down four with 12 minutes on the clock, the Lions once again equalized on a jumper as the half approached its midway point.
• With TCNJ holding a slim 30-29 lead at the 8:10 mark, AHMAD ROBERTSON slotted a pass to RYAN CASSELS, who sank a three to push the home side back in front. The Lions countered with the leveler on the next possession with a driving layup, but Cassels and ANDREW MARTIN combined for the next four points to push the Red Hawks back in front a minute later. Over the next two minutes, the visitors answered once again with the game's next six points to nudge in front by a possession. Morales converted a pull-up jumper shortly after, and MYLES PRIMAS rocketed in a dunk after gathering a steal to kickstart what would be a 10-4 scoring run for Montclair going into halftime with the score 46-42.
• As the margin held at four after the opening minute of the second stanza, Morales drove to the basket for a layup, and Cassels knocked down a three-pointer off a feed from Nicholson at the 17:35 mark to expand the lead to nine for the Red Hawks. Back-to-back buckets from TCNJ brought them back within two possessions before CHRISTIAN CEVIS converted a driving layup to answer. Cassels found Martin for a corner three-pointer to create the game's first double-digit lead with 16 minutes remaining, and Primas would later increase the gap to 12 with 13:05 left. The Lions would answer with a 7-0 run over the next two and a half minutes to get within five points, a run halted by a layup from Nicholson on the next possession.
• Goss slotted a pass to Morales with seven minutes on the clock to make the score 70-62, but TCNJ climbed back into the contest once again with eight of the next nine points to make it a one-point game with just under six minutes on the clock. As the difference sat at two a few minutes later, Cevis found Primas for a layup and Goss drained a three-pointer to expand the lead to seven with 3:02 remaining, forcing a timeout from the Lions. The visitors utilized their third 7-0 stretch of the contest over the next 90 seconds to equalize at 79 points. Goss connected on a pull-up jumper on the next possession to put the Red Hawks back in front, but TCNJ scored the final four points of the afternoon, including a basket with seven seconds remaining, to seal the victory.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• The Red Hawks put a season-high six in double figures, led by a 18-point performance from Goss, who hit four long distance shots and collected five assists.
• Morales contributed 12 points, five assists, and four rebounds to fill the statsheet en route to his eighth consecutive double-digit performance.
• Nicholson notched 11 points, with Primas matching the total while adding six boards to lead the way on the glass for the Red Hawks.
• Martin had a career day coming off the bench, recording a career-high 11 points in 13 minutes, marking his first double-digit performance.
• Cassels was the final Red Hawk in double figures, totaling 10 points off the bench.
• Montclair shot 44 percent from the floor and 38 percent from beyond the arc for the day.
• The contest marked Montclair's second consecutive appearance in the NJAC Championship game.

FROM THE COURT

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UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will await their opponent for the First Round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, with the Selection Show scheduled for Monday, March 2, at 1:00 PM.