JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Junior guard Michael Morris (Burlington, NJ/Burlington City) came off the bench to ignite a 17-1 second half run that opened up a double figure lead and the Gothic Knights hit 10 three-pointers in a 70-62 New Jersey Athletic Conference victory over red-hot Montclair State University on Wednesday night at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on 'Coach Charlie Brown Court.'
NJCU keeps on rolling, improving to 12-2 overall and 3-1 in the conference while defeating Montclair (13-4, 3-2 NJAC) for the third time in four meetings over the past two years. In the 154th meeting between the schools, Montclair, which leads the all-time series 87-67 since 1932-33, had its six-game winning streak snapped. MSU had won 11 of its last 12 games before the loss. NJCU is 7-0 at home this season and has won 18 consecutive contests on its home court.
"This was a big win. We made plays we needed to, especially defensively, and Mike Morris came off the bench to give us a big lift scoring wise," said fifth-year head coach MARC BROWN. "Mike hit some big shots—something I've been waiting for because he has that type of talent. There were lots of contributions from a number of guys today."
Morris, whose previous best was 10 points, scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half and finished the game shooting 5-of-6 from the field and 3-for-4 from three-point distance in 20 minutes of action.