Gian Paul Gonzalez led the way with 20 points as MSU moved back over the .500 mark, improving to 6-5 on the season while gaining its first conference win this season (1-2).
Montclair State trailed 64-61 with 1:18 left in regulation as Dwayne Reevey hit two free throws. The Profs then had two chances to extend the lead, but came up empty on a short jumper and two missed foul shots.
Those missed opportunities proved costly as the Red Hawks would tie the game with six seconds left. Senior Michael Gluck, who finished with 16 points, drained a three-pointer forcing the extra period.
In the overtime, MSU struck first as Ford scored on a jumper to make the score 66-64 with 3:31 left. Rowan cut the lead to one as Reevey made one free throw, but Quentin Demeritte pushed the lead to three with a layup and Al Hawkins delivered a staggering blow with a three pointer to put MSU up 71-65 with 1:10 to play.
Ford added a free throw before Rowan's Ryan Cochrane scored on layup with 28 seconds to go making the score 72-67. A replay of that sequence with 18 seconds remaining left MSU with a 73-69 advantage before Ford sealed the game with two free throws.
Gluck finished with eight rebounds as he played in all but one minute of the contest. Ford had four rebounds and three assists while Hawkins finished with 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals. Rashad Butler had nine points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Cochrane had 17 points for Rowan, which also got a double-double from Ryan King (10 points, 10 rebounds). Matt Byrnes added 14 points while Timothy Bowswer and Evan Johnson each collecting nine points.
The Red Hawks return to action on Saturday, January 8 as they come home to Panzer Gymnasium to face the Scarlet Raptors of Rutgers-Camden. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 pm.