Todd Lowber (Riverside, NJ/ Delran) had 16 points for the Roadrunners, who shot 61 percent (19-of-31) in the second half in recording their third straight victory. Ramapo is now 5-1 overall, 3-1 in the NJAC. The victory offset another outstanding performance from Montclair State’s Gian Paul Gonzalez (North Haledon, NJ/Manchester Regional), who finished with 35 points and grabbed a season-best 14 rebounds as the Red Hawks (2-4, 1-3 NJAC) dropped their third straight.
MSU led 44-41 at halftime, however, Ramapo would take control with a 12-0 run over a four-minute span. Trailing 54-49, Quameir Harding (Jersey City, NJ/ Ferris) drained a three-pointer to start the run and Antoine Pryor (Elizabeth, NJ/ Saint Patrick) hit a free throw to make the score, 54-53. Noel Colon (Jersey City, NJ/North Bergen) then gave the Roadrunners the lead for good and Mike Malko (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) followed with consecutive baskets before Mosby capped the spurt with a layup for 61-54 lead with 13:59 to play. Rashawn Wilson (Jersey City, NJ/ Dickinson) would make the lead double-digits, 68-58 with a layup at the 11:16 mark.
But Montclair State would chip away at the lead, cutting the deficit to 85-83 with 1:48 to play as Gonzalez, who topped the 30-point mark for the third time this season, converted a three-point play. Lowber answered with a layup 16 seconds later and two free throws by Mosby put Ramapo up 89-83 with 39 seconds left. Garan Dickson (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) would hit a three for the Red Hawks and Jonathan Arthur (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) sank two free throws with 14 ticks remaining to make the score, 90-88. But Pryor and Loweber connected on four free throws in the closing seconds, sealing the win for Ramapo, which has beaten Montclair State four straight times since the Red Hawks’ double-overtime victory in the 2003 NJAC Championship Game.
Harding finished with 14 points while Malko and Wilson each added 13. Colon had seven rebounds for the Roadrunners, who shot 35-of-71 (49 percent) for the game and won despite being outrebounded 47-36.
Jamal Ford (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) had 18 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Red Hawks, who committed 27 turnovers in the game. Maurice Torres (Summit, NJ/Summit) had nine points while Arthur Elam (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) added eight points, six rebounds and four assists.
Montclair State returns to action on Saturday, December 10 as they host The College of Staten Island in non-conference action at 1:00 pm. Ramapo is in action the same day with an 8:00 pm road contest at conference rival New Jersey City University.