Mahwah, NJ – The Montclair State men's basketball team erased a 19-point halftime deficit en route to a dramatic 85-79 overtime win over Ramapo Wednesday night.

They trailed by as much as 20 late in the opening period, with the 20-point deficit marking the largest come-from-behind win for the Red Hawks (19-4, 13-3 NJAC) since knocking off Rutgers-Camden in the season-finale of the 2019-20 campaign in a game they trailed by 16 early in the second half.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Neither side was able to take a stronghold in the game during the opening minutes of the contest before Ramapo used an 8-0 run over a 2:39 span to open up an 18-9 advantage. During the rally, they shot 5-of-6 while holding Montclair 1-of-6.
• The lead swelled to 12 before MIKE JACKSON stopped the rally with a three-pointer. After a KIERAN FLANAGAN free throw, Jackson knocked down a long two from the top of the key to shrink the gap to six.
• After Ramapo held Montclair scoreless for over three minutes to extend the margin to 13, AMARI MILLS canned a trey to end the drought. The Roadrunners stayed hot, using a 19-8 spurt over the final 8:20 to grab a 19-point halftime lead.
• Ramapo shot a blistering 56.7% (17-of-30) from the floor in the first 20 minutes while forcing 12 Montclair State turnovers.
• The Red Hawks brought the margin down to single digits with 15:01 left in the second stanza after a traditional three-point play from Jackson. Holding Ramapo without a bucket for over three minutes, the Red Hawks the gap down to four on a cutting layup from KYREE HENRY.
• After a Breeman triple, GREG ECK swiped the inbound pass and hit a layup, making it 51-50 Ramapo and forcing the hosts into a timeout. The Red Hawks took their first lead of the evening midway through the period, as Jackson's fourth three-pointer put them up 53-51.
• Breeman's fourth shot from deep of the night snapped a 60-60 tie, and after a made bucket on the other end, Breeman put back a Jackson miss to make it 65-64.
• Ramapo pulled in front 67-65 on an Anthony Corbo three-pointer with 2:21 left before Peter Gorman extended the lead to five with a step-back three-pointer with 1:45 to go.
• The Red Hawks continued to fight back, with Flanagan knocking two free throws and Jackson netting a layup off a stolen inbounds pass. Elijah Barlow hit two free throws to give Ramapo a 72-69 lead with 13 ticks left, but Flanagan forced overtime with an off-balance three-pointer with one second left.
• Henry opened the extra session with a three-pointer, and following a Ramapo basket, Breeman converted a pair from the charity stripe to bring the lead back to three. Gorman evened things back at 77 with a corner three-pointer with 2:16 left.
• The see-saw overtime saw Ramapo claw to one before Breeman calmly hit his sixth three of the night with 44 seconds left to make it a two-possession game. KEYON PRYCE stripped Gorman in the front court, and Breeman sank two free throws to ice it.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Breeman erupted for 25 points in the second half and overtime after being held scoreless in the first half. 
• Jackson tallied 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting in the second period and pulled down five second-half boards.
• The Red Hawks possessed the ball much better in the second half and OT, turning the ball over just three times.

UP NEXT
The Red Hawks host Kean University in the regular season home finale Saturday, with tip-off scheduled for 1 pm inside the Panzer Athletic Center.