Mitchell-White's Clutch Shot Lifts MSU Past TCNJ in NJAC Tournament, 67-65

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Montclair, NJ – Sophomore guard Myles Mitchell-White connected on a fall-away jumper with 1.2 seconds remaining lifting third-seeded Montclair State to a 67-65 victory over sixth-seeded The College of New Jersey in the first round of the NJAC Tournament at the Panzer Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon.

Mitchell-White finished with 21 points and helped send the Red Hawks (17-9) into the semifinals where it will face second-seeded Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ on Tuesday, February 19 at 7:00 pm. Montclair will look to avenge two regular-season losses to the Profs including a 92-90 setback in Montclair on February 2.

Junior Randy Walko posted a game-high 31 points for the Lions (13-13).

TCNJ led for the first 12 minutes of the first half before the Red Hawks grabbed their first lead at 26-25 on a layup by Justin Porter with 7:39 remaining. Mitchell-White extended the lead to four points with a three-point play however Walko's two foul shots with 5:40 to play knotted the game at 29-29. The teams traded the lead with an Akbar Hoffman three-pointer putting the Red Hawks in front
34-33 with four minutes left. MSU led 40-35 at the break.

A four-point run by the Lions to begin the second half cut the lead to 40-39. Porter answered with consecutive three-pointers sparking a 10-1 run that was completed by a Mitchell-White basket for a 50-40 lead with 14:48 to play. The Lions were able to whittle that back to a field goal as Andrew Kennan sank a three-pointer making the score 52-50 near the midpoint of the half.

Walko regained the lead for TCNJ 55-54 however Mitchell-White netted five straight putting Montclair State back in front 59-54 with 6:01 left. Niall Carpenter's three two minutes later cut the lead to a point before an Eddie Emedoh layup made the score 63-60. Those two would trade points again with Walko's three-point play with 61 seconds remaining tied the game at 65-65.

Montclair State ran the clock down to 39 seconds before Porter misfired on a three. Emeodh was there to grab the rebound giving the Red Hawks a second-chance. They would get a third chance when Hoffman was able to get another carom off a miss. MSU called timeout with 19 seconds left and the ball wound up in the hands of Mitchell-White. He dribbled on the right side before driving along the right baseline. With a defender in his face, Mitchell-White floated his game-winner.

Emeodh finished with 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench while Hoffman and Porter each had 10 points. Mitchell-White and Jalen Parham had six rebounds each for MSU which outrebounded TCNJ 49-33 with 20 on the offensive side that led to 15 second-chance points.