JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Montclair State University used a 13-0 run in the second half to turn a five-point deficit into an eight-point lead and didn't give it back as No. 20 ranked New Jersey City University had its 21-game regular season home court winning streak snapped with a 76-66 New Jersey Athletic Conference loss to MSU on January 3 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center ('Coach Charlie Brown Court').
 
NJCU (10-2, 4-1 NJAC) suffered its first conference loss of the season and loses for the second time in three games after a record-breaking 9-0 start to the season. Montclair wins its fifth straight game and picks up its best win of the season, improving to 10-3 overall and 4-2 in the league.
 
The outcome is the first regular-season home court loss for NJCU since a two-point setback to TCNJ on January 9, 2016 (76-74).
 
Sophomore power forward Sam Toney (Plainfield, NJ/Williamstown) had a double-double of 20 points (7-18 FG) and 10 defensive rebounds in 30 minutes and junior shooting guard Lavrone Green (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) tallied 15 points (7-12 FG) in 32 minutes.
 
Also for NJCU, junior point guard Shaquan Worthy (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Central) added nine points and five assists and junior center Yuri Brutus (Roselle, NJ/Roselle Park) finished with eight points (4-7 FG) and three blocks.
 
But the Gothic Knights got little production from the rest of the team, with the remaining eight players accounting for just 14 points and 10 rebounds as Montclair's reserves outscored the NJCU bench, 24-8.
 
Freshman guard Myles Mitchell-White (Trenton, N.J.), the league's Rookie of the Week in four of seven weeks this season, scored 15 points (5-10 FG) with seven boards and three assists and junior forward Jordan Roberson (Union, N.J.) collected 12 points (4-8 FG). Senior forward Jarrett Bogus (Middlesex, N.J.) finished with 10 points.
 
Also for Montclair, sophomore forward Kaan Yilmaz (Izmir, Turkey) hauled in a game-high 12 rebounds (nine defensive) as Montclair owned a +20 rebounding margin, 48-28. He added eight points.
 
MSU received nine points apiece from sophomore swing Justin Porter (Ewing, N.J.) and senior guard Daniel Ramis (Miami, Fla.) who each hit three three-pointers. Porter added seven rebounds.
 
Montclair shot 47.1 percent from three-point distance (8-17) while NJCU struggled from long range, making 7-of-26 (26.9 percent).              
 
Up 31-30, a 9-1 run by Montclair gave the Red Hawks a 39-32 lead when Porter hit a three with 1:17 remaining in the first half. MSU led by five, 39-34 at the break.
 
NJCU looked like it had bounced back when it answered with an 11-0 run between two periods that saw the hosts move in front, 43-39, when Toney hit a three with 17:38 to play. Mitchell-White answered with a three before Toney and Worthy responded with baskets that gave NJCU its largest lead of the night, 47-42, with 16:15 to play.
 
But in a game with eight ties and 12 lead changes, Montclair countered with a run NJCU would not be able to withstand this time, turning the 47-42 deficit into a 55-47 lead with 12:24 to play when Mitchell-White hit a pair from the line to cap a 13-0 streak. He scored eight of the 13 and Yilmaz hit a three. Montclair would not give up the advantage.
 
NJCU tried to rally, cutting it to two, 61-59, when Toney scored his 18th point with 7:20 to go. But MSU countered with another 9-0 run, including dagger baskets by Yilmaz and Mitchell-White to push the lead to 11 (70-59) with 3:53 to play, and NJCU didn't have another comeback in them.
 
NOTABLES:

• Series: 169th known meeting since early 1930s. Montclair leads, 94-75.
• NJCU ranked No. 20 in NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com.
• Sam Toney (Plainfield, NJ/Williamstown) scored in double figures for the 28th time in 41 career games.
• Sam Toney (Plainfield, NJ/Williamstown) scored at least 20 points in a game for the 10th time in his career and the seventh time in 12 games this season.
• Toney reached double figures in rebounds for the 10th time in his career.
• Toney produced his ninth career double-double and fourth of the season.
• Lavrone Green (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) reached double figures in scoring for the 10th time in 12 games as a Gothic Knight. For Green, it was the 27th double digit scoring effort of his collegiate career.
• NJCU's first home game since December 6.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• NJCU will look to turn its week around when it heads to Glassboro, N.J. to face Rowan University in NJAC action on Saturday, January 6 (3 p.m.). It will be the 121st known meeting that is even all-time, 60-60.

 
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