The Montclair State University men’s basketball team fell short against Wesleyan University Wednesday evening. It was an electrifying matchup that showcased why both sides entered the contest undefeated.
From the opening tip, the Wesleyan Cardinals struck first, capitalizing on early pressure with effective inside scoring. The Cardinals built a 29-18 advantage after 10 minutes. Junior guard Samar Abdullah responded with a three-pointer for Montclair State, igniting the Red Hawk offense.
Despite moments of brilliance, Montclair State still struggled to find consistency in the first half. Wesleyan’s defense troubled the Red Hawks, forcing turnovers, shot clock violations, and offensive breakdowns.
Montclair State’s aggression sometimes backfired, as Wesleyan’s quick ball movement benefited from The Red Hawks’ overzealous defensive approach.
By halftime, Wesleyan held a commanding 46-30 lead, fueled by 12 second-chance points and seven steals compared to Montclair State’s zero. This was contrary to previous Montclair State University performances this year.
Montclair State entered the second half down by 16 points. | Photo Courtesy of Montclair State Athletics
Now facing the biggest deficit of their season thus far, the Red Hawks had no choice but to show what kind of team they wanted to be this season and they did just that.
In the second half, Montclair State came out with renewed intensity. Junior forward Jacob Morales quickly capitalized on a Wesleyan turnover with a steal and a quick three-pointer, setting the tone for a Red Hawk comeback. The team tightened up defensively, turning Wesleyan mistakes into opportunities.
Junior guard Christian Cevis played a pivotal role in Montclair State’s second half resurgence. Whether it was fighting tirelessly for loose balls, making the right shots at the right time or hyping up the crowd, Cevis was doing it all.
Senior guard Mike Jackson found his rhythm late in the first half and carried that momentum into the second as well. A critical steal from Jackson, followed by a bounce pass to Cevis for a layup, gave Montclair State their first lead of the game midway through the half.
Senior guard Mike Jackson found his rhythm late in the first half. | Photo Courtesy of Montclair State Athletics
A Jackson three-pointer reestablished the Red Hawk lead at 56-53 with just over 10 minutes left in regulation. Junior guard Samar Abdullah also stepped up, converting tough shots at the rim to keep the Red Hawks in the fight.
It was back and forth for the rest of the game. Wesleyan, however, refused to fold. They relied on second-chance opportunities and composed free-throw shooting to keep the game in their favor down the stretch.
While Montclair State’s improved defensive presence had brought them back from a major deficit, the game wasn’t over.
Wesleyan relied on their physicality and scoring options such as senior guard Shane Regan and sophomore guard Ben Lyttle. They both converted to bring the score to 70-65 with 1:23 left in the game.
Now with just over a minute remaining, Montclair State had forced stops late in the game, but the team couldn’t capitalize enough on key chances down the stretch. Wesleyan’s resilience ultimately proved too much, as they eked out a narrow 70-67 victory in what was a true test of endurance and execution for both teams.
The Red Hawks showed flashes of brilliance and fight, but early missed opportunities proved costly in the end. Despite the loss, Montclair can take pride in their second-half effort, a testament to their grit and potential for future matchups.
Head coach Mike Potts said that he was still proud of how his team battled adversity.
“When you get down 16, you got a choice, either get ran out of your own building or solve it,” Potts said. “We did a good job of solving it. [We faced] two really good teams early in the year, it should hopefully make us better.”
The Montclair State Red Hawks will hope to get back into the win column against Rowan University in Glassboro. | Photo Courtesy of Montclair State Athletics
The Montclair State Red Hawks will hope to get back into the win column this Tuesday evening as they take on Rowan University in Glassboro.
