Galloway, NJ – Freshman Myles Mitchell-White scored 20 points and added five rebounds and five assists however Stockton University's strong second half proved too much as the Red Hawks fell to the Ospreys, 89-81 on Saturday.
Freshman Joseph Radi had 14 points for MSU, which had its five-game winning streak snapped with the loss. Montclair dropped to 16-6 on the season, 10-5 in the NJAC as it remained in fourth place. The Red Hawks are currently three games ahead of fifth-place Stockton in the race towards the conference tournament.
Kashaun Barnes led the Ospreys (13-9, 7-8 NJAC) with 37 points. Zavon Johnson added 21 for Stockton which outscored MSU 59-42 in the second half to turn a nine-point deficit into an eight-point victory for a season split of the two games. Montclair won the first meeting 77-64 back on January 6.
A Barnes three-pointer in the first half got the hosts within 29-25 with 7:37 left before Montclair closed out the opening period with 10 of the final 15 points. Jarrett Bogus got things going with a layup and Daniel Ramis hit from behind the arc before another Bogus basket with 3:31 to go made the score 34-25. Kaan Yilmaz drained a three and a Justin Porter layup with 1:24 remaining helped the Red Hawks build a 39-30 lead at the break.
In the second half, Stockton chipped away at the deficit getting within one possession several times only to see Montclair State boost the lead back up to as many as six points. Johnson connected on a three with 8:24 tying the score however DeAireus Brown made one free throw regaining the lead for the Red Hawks.
A minute later Barnes' three vaulted Stockton into the lead 65-63 and he added another jumper the next trip down the floor for a four-point advantage. Jovanni Chatham scored on a layup getting the Red Hawks within 67-66 but Johnson hit twice from the line to give the Ospreys as 69-66 lead with 5:17 left.
Mitchell-White, who had 14 points in the second half, got MSU back on top 70-69 with 4:07 remaining however Taylor Jordan answered immediately with a seven-point run capped by Barnes' three-pointer for a 77-70 lead with 2:35 to go. Mitchell-White's three-point play and two foul shot with 38 ticks left pulled the Red Hawks within 81-79.
Kelvin Tull was fouled and made both attempts at the line pushing the lead back to four and, after a miss by Montclair, Johnson added two more from the line with 19 seconds for an 85-79 Stockton advantage. Mitchell-White made it a two-point game with 15 seconds left before the Ospreys closed out the game with four straight free throws.
Bogus finished with nine points and eight rebounds for MSU, which got nine points and four rebounds from Justin Porter and six points, seven rebounds and five assists from Yilmaz.
Montclair State is back in action on Wednesday, February 7 at home against New Jersey City University. Tipoff of the NJAC contest at the Panzer Athletic Center is scheduled for 8:00 pm.