Senior Michael Gluck (Union, NJ/Union) posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Jamal Ford (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) added a game-high 15 as the Red Hawks (13-9, 8-6 NJAC) snapped a two-game losing streak and picked up a key win toward the upcoming NJAC Tournament. The win also gave MSU a sweep of the season series with the Profs (15-8, 8-6 NJAC). Montclair State posted a 75-69 overtime win in Glassboro back on January 5.
Evan Johnson (Burlington, NJ/Lenape Reg.) had 12 points off the bench for Rowan, which lost for just the second time in its last nine outings.
Montclair State took the early lead as Gluck drained a three-pointer 19 seconds into the contest, however, Rowan went on a 17-5 run over the next six minutes to build a nine-point cushion. Brandon King (Sicklerville, NJ/Washington Twp.) had six points in the run while Ryan Cochrane (Howell, NJ/Pemberton) and Matt Byrnes (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) each added four as the Profs took a 17-8 advantage with 13:35 left in the opening period. A basket by Byrnes with 7:24 to play made the score, 30-21, but MSU scored the next 12 points to take a 33-30 lead. Larkin began the run with a three and Gluck ended the spurt with a three of his own to put Montclair ahead, 33-30 with 1:44 left. Timothy Bowser (Millville, NJ/Millville) ended that run with five consecutive points as Rowan led 35-33 at halftime.
In the second half, the Red Hawks opened up with a 10-1 spurt to take the lead for good. Al Hawkins (Linden, NJ/Elizabeth) ignited the run with a jumper and Gian Paul Gonzalez (No. Haledon, NJ/Manchester) had four consecutive points to make the score, 39-35. After an MSU foul shot, Ford drained a three-pointer to boost the Montclair lead to 43-36 with 16:19 to play. Rowan would cut the lead to 48-44 on a Johnson layup at 8:53, but Red Hawks would put the game away with an 8-0 run. Gluck scored on a layup before Ford and Hawkins drained back-to-back three’s for a 56-44 MSU lead with 6:10 to play.
For finished with eight rebounds and four assists while Hawkins chipped in with 10 points and three rebounds. Larkin, who entered the game averaging just 2.3 points per game, was 4-of-6 from behind the arc. The Red Hawks also shined at the free throw line in the second half sinking 15-of-17 attempts and 21-of-27 for the game.
Byrnes and King each had 10 points for Rowan, which shot just 32 percent (7-of-22) from the field in the second half.