Montclair, NJ:  The Montclair State University men's basketball team defeated Ramapo College 98-78 tonight in NJAC action. The Red Hawks snapped Ramapo's seven-game win streak as MSU moves to 9-10 overall and 7-5 in the conference while the Roadrunners now stand at 11-8 overall and 7-5 in the NJAC.
 
Joseph Radi opened the game with a three-pointer for MSU before Jason Battle got Ramapo on the board with a jumper. Ramapo took a 4-3 lead on a jumper from Rob McWilliams before MSU would take a 5-4 lead on a basket from Radi with 18:05 on the clock. Akbar Hoffman extended the lead with a three-pointer before Jordan Zagadou record back-to-back baskets for the Roadrunners to tie the game at eight with less than 17 minutes left in the first half. MSU would go on an 8-1 run over the next 2:18 of the half as they extended their lead 16-9. Connor Romano snapped the run with a jumper for Ramapo before Deaireus Brown sank a three-pointer for MSU for a 19-11 lead with 13:11 on the clock. Another 10-5 run from MSU which included three three-pointers saw the Red Hawks up 29-18 with less than ten minutes remaining in the half. The Red Hawks were up 29-20 before they recorded three straight three-pointers while the Roadrunners tacked on four more points. Radi hit back-to-back threes while Brown hit his second with 7:39 on the clock as MSU led 38-22. Ramapo would go on a mini 6-3 run of their own which included a three-pointer from Battle before Hoffman sank another three-pointer for MSU to take a 44-28 lead with 5:31 left to play. In the final five minutes of the first half, MSU outscored Ramapo 14-9 which included their 12th and 13th three-pointers of the half as they went into the locker room up 55-37.
 
In the second half, MSU would build a 60-40 lead before Ramapo got back-to-back baskets from Battle and Andre Morgan to cut the lead to 16. Hoffman and Steve Breeman would then sink two straight three-pointers to regain a 66-44 lead with over 15 minutes left in the game. The Red Hawks took their biggest lead of the game so far 70-46 with 14:26 on the clock on a layup from Parham before Mansfield Warren converted on an and-one play to start a mini 5-0 run for the Roadrunners. Marquise Kindel connected on a jumper to cut the lead to 19 with under 13 to play before a five-point swing from MSU allowed them to take a 75-51 lead. Down 21 with less than six minutes left on the clock, Ramapo went on a 6-0 run to shrink the Red Hawk lead down to 85-70 with 4:27 left to play. In the final four minutes of action MSU edged Ramapo 13-8 as they held onto the 20-point victory 98-78.
 
Four Roadrunners scored in double figures in the game as they were led by Zagadou and Battle who each tallied 15 points. Zagadou led the team with six rebounds while Battle led the way with four steals. Marquise Kindel and Mansfield Warren each tallied ten points while Warren led the team finishing 6-7 from the free throw line. The team shot 48% (29-60) from the field, 33% (4-12) from the three-point line and 66% (16-24) from the free throw line in the game. They forced 16 MSU turnovers which accounted for 21 points for the Roadrunners.
 
The Red Hawks, who scored 54 of their 98 points from beyond the three-point line were led by Hoffman who finished with 26 points including six three-pointers. Breeman tallied 17 points and eight rebounds while Radi added 11 points. Jalen Parham and Brown each collected nine points in the game. The team shot 54% (33-61) from the field, 47% (18-38) from the three-point line and 56% (14-25) from the free throw line.
 
The Roadrunners return to action on Saturday, February 1st when they travel to NJAC rival Rowan University for a 1pm game.