Camden, NJ – The Montclair State men's basketball team lost a 14-point second-half lead, but recovered to score 16 of the last 29 points down the stretch as it edged Rutgers University-Camden, 88-85, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Saturday afternoon.
 
After the Scarlet Raptors forged back from a 60-46 deficit to take the lead, 74-72, on a layup by sophomore guard Marcus Taylor (Somerdale, NJ/Sterling) with 4:48 remaining, the Red Hawks took the lead for good when freshman guard Jerome Hilton (Jersey City, NJ/Snyder) answered with a three-pointer.
 
Montclair State built its lead to seven points, 85-78, on a layup by Hilton with 2:10 remaining, but the Scarlet Raptors scored five of the next six points. They cut the gap to 86-83 with 1:18 left on a three-pointer by senior guard Jason Richardson (Cedarbrook, NJ/Winslow Township). Three missed shots down the stretch and a pair of free throws by Montclair State sophomore guard Erick Loften-Harris (Union, NJ/Union) made it an 88-83 game before Richardson hit a jumper for the final score.
 
The victory snapped a seven-game losing streak for Montclair State, which was sandwiched between a pair of victories over Rutgers-Camden, the first coming in Montclair on Jan. 10. The Red Hawks improve to 6-14 overall and 3-12 in the NJAC, winning for the 15th time in 16 games against the Scarlet Raptors. They lead the all-time series, 48-9.
 
Rutgers-Camden falls to 11-11 overall and 5-10 in the NJAC, placing the Scarlet Raptors' hopes of a post-season conference playoff spot in serious jeopardy. The Scarlet Raptors are in eighth place in the NJAC with three games remaining. The top six teams earn a conference playoff berth.
 
After Rutgers-Camden had built a 44-41 halftime lead behind 27 points from senior guard Wyatt Polk (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield Memorial), the teams traded baskets to start the second half before Montclair State went on a 17-point run. The first 14 points of that run were scored by freshman guard Lavrone Green (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck), who had three treys in that span and also hit three free throws after he was fouled on another three-point attempt.
 
That run lifted Montclair State to a 60-46 lead, but Rutgers-Camden scored 23 of the next 32 points, knotting the score three more times at (62-62, 67-67 and 69-69). Senior guard K.J. Brown (Sicklerville, NJ/Living Faith Christian Academy) scored nine points in that run, while Polk had five and senior guard/forward Alex Smart (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek) added four.
 
After the fifth tie of the half, at 72-72, the Raptors took their last lead on Taylor's field goal before Hilton's trey gave Montclair State a 75-74 edge and the final lead change.
 
Green finished with season-high 34 points for the Red Hawks, while sophomore guard Shaun Russell (Brooklyn, NY/Willingboro) had 15, Hilton scored 12 and Loften-Harris added 11. All 11 of his points came on 11-for-15 shooting from the foul line, and he also dished off a game-high six assists.
 
For Rutgers-Camden, Polk finished with 32 points, Brown netted 15 and Smart added 10 points and nine rebounds. Richardson, who added five points, also tied his career high of five assists.
 
Montclair State plays a non-conference game Monday at Yeshiva University, beginning at 8 p.m.