News Release

Montclair, NJ — Senior forward Gian Paul Gonzalez (North Haledon, NJ/Manchester Regional) scored 31 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in 26 minutes of action as Montclair State notched its second straight victory with a 91-69 victory over Rutgers-Camden in NJAC Men’s Basketball action at Panzer Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.

Jonathan Arthur (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) added 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Red Hawks, who moved back over the .500 mark at 11-10 overall while evening their NJAC record at 7-7. Wayne Smalls (Camden, NJ/Medical Arts) had 30 points, five rebounds and four assists for the Scarlet Raptors (1-19, 0-14 NJAC), who have dropped 27 of the last 28 meetings with MSU and fell to 8-37 in the all-time series.

Montclair State jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first three minutes as Jamal Ford (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) drained a three and Eric Sylvester (Orange, NJ/Orange) and Gonzalez hit baskets. Rutgers-Camden would get back within 13-9 on a three-pointer by Drew Bernier (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) with 14:25 to play. However, the Red Hawks went on a 16-2 run over the next five minutes to take control of the game.

Gonzalez began the run with seven straight points and Arthur followed a Bernier basket with a fast-break dunk to make the score 22-11 with 11:48 to go before half. Gonzalez converted a three-point play before Elliot Solop (Colonia, NJ/John F. Kennedy) connected on jumper giving MSU a 27-11 advantage. Gonzalez, who had 23 points in the opening period, then capped off the spurt with another basket as Montclair State built a 48-26 lead heading into halftime.

Solop finished with a career-high 14 points and added four rebounds and five assists for the Red Hawks, who shot 54 percent (19-of-35) in the first half and finished the game at 36-of-71 (51 percent) for the game. Sylvester added 13 points and four rebounds. Ford chipped in with six points, six rebounds and five assists as Montclair recorded 27 assists on their 36 field goals.

Amir Fantroyal (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek) had 18 points for Rutgers-Camden while Bernier registered 12 points and eight rebounds. The Scarlet Raptors shot 27-of-79 (34 percent) from the field in the game, including 7-of-24 attempts from the three-point line.

Montclair State returns to action on Wednesday, February 8 as the Red Hawks travel to Jersey City, NJ to face the Gothic Knights of New Jersey City University at 8:00 pm. Rutgers-Camden is at home on the same evening hosting Richard Stockton College.