Montclair, NJ – Two years ago, junior guard Myles Mitchell-White nailed a last-second shot to send Montclair State into the semifinals of the NJAC Tournament. He didn't need the heroics this time around but instead used a solid all-around performance to send the Red Hawks back to the same position.
Mitchell-White scored 21 points and added three rebounds, three assists, and three steals as No. 3 seed MSU got past and sixth-seeded William Paterson for the third time this season, 84-78 in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament at the Panzer Athletic Center on Friday evening.
Senior Irving Callender IV scored a game-high 22 points for Montclair, which will face either second-seeded New Jersey City or eighth-seeded Rutgers-Camden on Friday, March 12 in the semifinals.
Yvens Monfleury tallied 22 points and seven rebounds for the Pioneers, who finished the year at 2-3, all three losses coming to their local rival. Domenic Mignone added 17 points with Adryan Lopez tallying 14 in the loss.
Low-scoring through the first 15 minutes of the first half, the pace picked up quickly with WPU using a 10-3 run in 74 seconds, building a 31-21 lead on a dunk by Lopez with 5:22 left. The Pioneers led by seven with three minutes remaining before Montclair State closed within 39-37 as Mitchell-White scored on a layup.
The Red Hawks' Malachi Smythe tied the game at 39-39 early in the second half, however, William Paterson was able to move back in front and stayed there most of the way until MSU made its move with 12 minutes left. Sophomore guard Keyon Pryce ignited a 15-6 run over the next four minutes, starting with a three-pointer that put MSU in front for good. Pryce had seven points in the spurt which was capped off by a Mitchell-White jumper with 7:39 left making the score 67-59.
William Paterson closed the gap and pulled within 77-74 with 3:18 left as Mignone hit two at the line. Mitchell-White and Monfleury traded field goals keeping the game at a one-possession difference with 1:22 to go. Junior guard Devin Cooper delivered the big blow, a three-pointer with 56 ticks extending the lead to 82-76. Michael Gilmore answered for WPU, but Cooper sealed the victory connecting on a jumper with 26 seconds showing for what turned out to be the final margin.
Cooper finished with 11 points and six assists with Smythe grabbing a team-best 10 rebounds, along with seven points. Pryce and freshman Amir Williams each had nine points.
Friday's contest marked the 10th time the teams have met in the NJAC Tournament with Montclair winning for the fourth time and first since a 70-66 victory in Wayne, NJ in the 2003 semifinals.