Montclair, NJ – Senior forward Jarett Bogus scored 14 points leading four players in double figures as Montclair State turned a two-point halftime deficit into a 77-63 win over Kean University in the NJAC opener for both teams on Tuesday evening.

Jovanni Chatham and Daniel Ramis finished with 13 and 12 points respectively for the Red Hawks, who moved to 3-0 on the season. It is the second time in three years that Montclair has opened the year with three consecutive victories.

Adrian Baucum scored a game-high 15 points while Mike Summerer added a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds for Kean, which fell to 0-2.

Kean used a hot shooting touch early in the first half as the Cougar made six of their first 11 three-pointers and used a 10-3 run to take a 29-21 lead after Duke Germain sank two free throws with 8:24 left. The lead was 32-23 with just over five minutes remaining before Montclair closed within two at the break.

Chatham and Bogus had back-to-back baskets and a fast-break layup by Chatham with 3:31 to go made the score 33-29. Summerer answered for Kean with a layup however Bogus connected twice from the line and a layup by Jordan Roberson with 44 seconds before halftime allowed MSU to pull within 35-33 at halftime.

Bogus opened the second half with a layup tying the game at 35-35 and ignited a 15-3 run by the Red Hawks over the first five minutes. Ramis gave Montclair the lead at 41-38 with a three-pointer and Joseph Radi knocked down another three extending the lead to 46-38 with 15:36 left. Myles Mitchell-White capped the run with two free throws as MSU's lead his double digits at 48-38.

Montclair got up by as many as 12 points, the last coming at 59-47 but Kean countered with an 11-3 run and got within 62-58 when Keenan Williams, Jr. made one of two foul shots with 6:35 remaining. Justin Porter got one back on a free throw before Radi buried a three-pointer for a 66-58 advantage with 4:57 remaining.

Mitchell-White finished with 10 points for MSU, which got six points and 15 rebounds from Roberson. Kaan Yilmaz had nine rebounds as the Red Hawks outrebounded the Cougars, 58-36, including 19 offensive rebounds. Eddie Emedoh totaled eight points and six rebounds with Chatham also grabbing six boards.

Montclair State returns to action on Saturday, November 25 in the Colby Classic in Waterville, ME. The Red Hawks will face Eastern Connecticut at 5:00 pm.