Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – Forward Richard Brown converted a three-point play with 23 seconds remaining in overtime to give Montclair State University a 68-66 win over host Rowan University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Saturday.
The game was tied at 60 after the second period. In overtime, Brown (sr. Newark, NJ/Newark Tech) made a layup and sunk a free throw at 2:57 to give the Red Hawks a one point advantage (65-64). Rowan answered with a layup by forward Tyson Hartnett (jr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) with 58 seconds left to go up by one (66-65). Brown scored on a layup with 23 seconds on the clock to put Montclair State ahead 67-66. He was fouled on the play and made his free throw to seal the victory.
Montclair State improves to 10-4 overall and 3-1 in the conference. Rowan has a 7-8 record and a 1-3 NJAC mark. The Red Hawks were led by forward Daniel McRae (jr. Orange, NJ/Newark Tech) with 18 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks and five steals. Guard James Williams (so. Englewood, NJ/Dwight Morrow) scored a game-high 19 points. Brown finished with 10 points and five boards. Guard Ken Dudley (jr. Willingboro, NJ/Burlington) dished seven assists.
For the Profs, Hartnett totaled 16 points and six rebounds. Forward Tim Cook (jr. Willingboro, NJ/Glassboro) compiled 15 points and seven boards. Guard Billy Care (sr. Linwood, NJ/Mainland Reg.) contributed with 13 points. Guard Aaron Spellman (sr. Pine Hill, NJ/St. Joseph’s (Hammonton) had five steals.
Rowan started the game with a 10-2 run over the first 6:10 capped off with a three-pointer by guard Dan Reddan (sr. Brick, NJ/Brick Twp.). Montclair State outscored Rowan, 11-2 over the next 2:43 to go ahead by one (13-12). Center Jon Georges (so. West Orange, NJ/St. Peter’s Prep) recorded four points. Guard Paul Siljee’s (fr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) jumper at 7:57 gave the Red Hawks a three point lead (17-14). Rowan went up by one following a layup by Cook (7:37) and two free throws by Reddan (7:06). The score was tied three more times with the final one at 2:27 (23-23). Rowan closed out the half with a 6-2 run. Williams nailed a jumper as time expired to make the score 29-25 at the intermission. He led all first half scorers with nine points.
In the second period, Rowan was up 35-29 at 16:26 after a layup by Cook. Montclair State scored nine of the next 11 points for a 38-37 advantage at 13:38. Williams had five points, while McRae added four. The Profs went ahead by two (40-38) after a three-pointer by Care at 13:02. The Red Hawks took over, building an eight point lead (50-42) over the next four minutes. Williams’ three-point play at 3:15 made the score 60-54. Spellman had a layup (2:07) and Care sunk two foul shots (1:00) to bring Rowan within two (60-58). With 21 seconds left, Hartnett made two free throws to send the game into overtime.
Rowan travels to Penn State Abington for a non-conference game on Monday, January 12 at 7 p.m. Montclair State hosts conference opponent Rutgers-Newark on Wednesday, January 14 at 7:30 p.m.
