CAMDEN, N.J.. (Dec. 2, 2023) – The Montclair State University men's basketball team rallied from a 10-point deficit in the final six minutes and went on to edge Rutgers University-Camden, 72-70, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference  game here Saturday afternoon.
 
The win lifts the Red Hawks to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the NJAC, while Rutgers-Camden falls to 4-4 and 1-2. It was the second straight one-possession NJAC game the Scarlet Raptors played on their home court this week, coming on the heels of a 64-61 win over Stockton University Wednesday night.
 
After the two teams played to a 32-32 halftime deadlock, the lead changed twice early in the second half before the Scarlet Raptors eventually built a 61-51 lead, coming with just under six minutes remaining in the game. Montclair responded with 12 straight points, including a pair of treys by junior guard Kyree Henry, to grab a 63-61 lead.
 
Rutgers-Camden tied the game, 63-63, on a layup by sophomore forward Cherif Kanoute before the teams traded three-pointers, with senior guard Kieran Flanagan hitting for the Red Hawks and senior guard Ethan Tarte answering for the Scarlet Raptors. Layups by Montclair junior guard Mike Jackson and the Raptors' Kanoute re-tied the game at 68-68 before Jackson hit a trey to give the Red Hawks the lead for good, 71-68.
 
Rutgers-Camden sliced the margin to 71-70 on a pair of foul shots in the last minute by junior guard Eric Benjamin before a foul shot by Flanagan led to the final margin. A Rutgers-Camden turnover in the last seconds helped the Red Hawks seal their fifth straight win over the Scarlet Raptors.
 
Henry led Montclair State with 23 points, while Jackson added 17 points and a team-high six rebounds. Flanagan, who came up big for the Red Hawks, scored 12 points, had a game-high four steals and tied for game-high honors with six assists.
 
Raptor sophomore forward Cameron Downs collected his first double-double of the season with 22 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, while also notching a game-high three blocks. Downs' 22 points lifted him over the 500-point milestone in his young career. He now has 501 points in only 31 games.

Benjamin, Kanoute and Tarte all added 10 points for the Scarlet Raptors.Graduate student guard Javon Gordon tied for game-high honors with six assists, while adding eight points.
 
Both teams had 32 rebounds. Rutgers-Camden hit 23 of 45 field goal attempts (51.1 percent), while Montclair went 25-for-60 (41.7). The Scarlet Raptors made six more turnovers (24-18).
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to action Wednesday with a 5:30 p.m. NJAC game at Rowan University.