Montclair State hangs on for 58-52 win over William Paterson

Fresh off a resounding 75-60 victory over Drew University in the third place game of the Drew Rose City Classic Tournament at the Panzer Athletic Center where Alex McKinnon and Kim Calloway each poured in 17 point apiece and Taylor Brown chipped in with 10 points and10 players saw game action, the Montclair State Red Hawks opened up NJAC (New Jersey Athletic Conference) play against the William Paterson University Pioneers on Tuesday night.

Early on the action was close between the both teams’. In the second quarter Montclair State managed to end the first half on a positive note with an 8-0 run taking a 27-20 lead at halftime. However, William Paterson answered back in the third quarter outscoring the Red Hawks 17-12. Just as the buzzer ended Kim Calloway sank a jump shot putting Montclair State ahead 39-37.

Having tallied 11 points in the first half, Alex McKinnon continued to dominate scoring eight more points along with grabbing a team high 13 rebounds including a perfect 4 for 4 from the free throw line. Held to four points, Calloway lit up the score sheet chalking up 11 points including a trifecta that put Montclair State ahead 44-41 with 5:13 remaining in the fourth quarter and sank 7 out of 11 free throws. The Pioneers kept the pressure up with fouls but the Red Hawks knocked down their free throws in the end, sinking 15 of 18 in the second half and 20 for 29 in the contest for the 58-52 victory.

“It certainly was not pretty tonight but we found a way to get the job done and really proud of them,” said Montclair State Head Coach Karin Harvey. “Every time they play they get a little bit better and really proud of the effort. That was the first time we made our free throws all season. I thought we rebounded well and did a nice job on the boards.”

“Alex (McKinnon) has played tremendous and is rock solid, a great leader and nothing flashy but works super hard and can score around the basket, make the three’s and battles on the boards. Kim (Calloway) is playing great for a sophomore, doing do much for us in guarding the other teams’ best player and contributing on the scoreboard, rebounding and starting to understand how to play the game.”

With the Thanksgiving break, the Red Hawks get to enjoy five days off before resuming play next Monday at the Panzer Athletic Center facing off against Stevens Institute of Technology at 6:00 p.m. On Wednesday November 28, Montclair State gets back into NJAC play taking on Ramapo College and wrapping up the week on Saturday, December 1 at Kean University.

“I thought we played really well against Drew, we got a lot of kids playing time and that was nice,” Harvey said. We feel pretty good about 3-1 going into the break, get a little rest here and enjoy time with our families and three tough games next week.”