Second-Half Surge Propels Montclair St. Past Kean, 73-58

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Union, NJ – Junior forward Alex McKinnon scored a game-high 19 points as Montclair State extended its winning streak to five games with a 73-58 win over Kean University at Harwood Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Sophomore guards Taylor Brown and Kim Calloway netted 13 and 12 points respectively for the Red Hawks, who upped their record to 6-1 on the year, 3-0 in conference play. Payce Lange had 17 points and seven rebounds for Kean (2-4, 1-2 NJAC).

Montclair turned a one-point deficit into a 15-point victory as it outscored the Cougars 44-28 shooting 48 percent from the field (13-of-27) including 7-of-11 from behind the arc. Meanwhile the Red Hawks defense limited Kean to just 7-fo-32 shooting (22 percent).

Calloway converted the rare 4-point play to start the third quarter giving MSU a 33-30 lead 20 seconds into the new half. After a Cougar basket, Montclair went on a 13-4 run over the next seven minutes to take a double-digit lead. Calloway and Rylee Mulligan each hit three-pointers with another Calloway basket making the score 43-39 with 5:09 left. McKinnon capped the spurt with a three-point giving the Red Hawks a 46-36 lead.

MSU took a 50-40 lead into the quarter and quickly widened it to 18 points. McKinnon sank two free throws with Calloway and Mulligan each hitting from behind the arc making the score 58-40 with 8:22 to go. McKinnon gave Montclair it biggest lead on a three-pointer with 5:38 for a 65-43 advantage.

Mulligan and Domonique Wirsing had eight points apiece with Wirsing pulling down a team-best 10 rebounds in addition to five assists. Brown had six rebounds and four steals with McKinnon adding five caroms. Cerys MacLelland and Kayla Bush chipped in with five points each.

Montclair State is back in action on Wednesday, December 5 as it hosts New Jersey City at the Panzer Athletic Center with tipoff of the NJAC contest slated for 6:00 pm.