Freshman Charles Miller (Linden, NJ/Linden) had 13 points while freshman reserve Steve Hansen (Beachwood, NJ/Toms River South) added 12 on four three-pointers as MSU moved to 7-6 on the year. It was also the second time this season the Red Hawks defeated the Bulldogs as Montclair notched a 91-43 victory at home back on November 27.
Phillipe Leger (Denville, NJ/Denville) had a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds for Berkeley.
Montclair State, which led from opening tip to final buzzer, scored the first five points of the game as part of a 19-2 opening run as it built a 15-point cushion in the first 5:35 of the contest. Jonathan Arthur (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) and Maurice Torres (Summit, NJ/Summit), each had baskets and Sylvester added a free throw in the first moments of the game before Jahlil Shannon (Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City) got Berkely on the board. Freshman John Byrne (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) drained a three-pointer and Sylvester followed with five straight points before Arthur threw down a dunk to make the score 15-2. Arthur would add another layup before Miller closed out the 14-0 run with a short make.
Arthur and Torres each finished with 11 points in the first half as Montclair led 53-18 at the intermission. Arthur also had eight rebounds, three assists and four steals as both players sat out the second half. Sylvester had eight points while point guard Ken Dudley (Willingboro, NJ/Burlington Tech) contributed four and five assists as the Red Hawks shot 53 percent (21-of-39) from the field, including 7-of-12 from behind the arc.
Leger had 14 of his 20 in the second half. Shannon had 12 points and six assists while Jimmy Tutovic (Morganville, NJ/Marlboro) had eight points. The Bulldogs shots 35 percent from the field (22-of-63), including 4-of-19 from three-point range.
Miller would add a team-best nine rebounds for Montclair State while freshman guard Donald Reid (Perth Amboy, NJ/Cardinal McCarey) had 11 points. In all, MSU had 13 players score in the contest and finished the game with a solid shooting evening. The Red Hawks were 38-of-65 from the floor and were better from behind the arc making 14-of-23 attempts. Montclair also held a 42-29 rebound edge.
The Red Hawks are back in action on Saturday, January 13 as they return to NJAC play. MSU, currently 1-2 in league play this season, will host the Gothic Knights of New Jersey City University at 1:00 pm in the first half of a men’s and women’s conference doubleheader.