WAYNE — From the opening tip, Wednesday night felt like it would demand focus, toughness, and patience. In a rivalry setting on the road, with a loud crowd and an opponent desperate for a statement, Montclair State knew nothing would come easy. By the final horn, the Red Hawks once again proved why they remain unbeaten, pulling away late for a 96–82 win over William Paterson to extend their winning streak to 19 games.
Montclair State wasted little time making its presence felt. Myles Primas and Kabrien Goss knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to open the game, helping the Red Hawks score six of the first eight points. The early shooting, however, did not rattle William Paterson. Instead, the Pioneers responded with force, ripping off a 12–0 run that flipped the game and gave the home side a 14-6 lead just minutes in.
The Pioneers continued to play with confidence, pushing their advantage to 18-11 as Montclair searched for rhythm. Cristian Nicholson finally slowed the momentum with a three-pointer off a steal by Ahmad Robertson, but William Paterson stayed aggressive, rebuilding a five-point cushion and later stretching it to a game-high eight. With the Red Hawks trailing and the energy clearly swinging toward the home bench, Montclair head coach Justin Potts called timeout to regroup.
That pause changed the tone of the night.
Coming out of the stoppage, Ryan Cassels drilled a three-pointer off a pass from Kunga Tsering, who followed by calmly knocking down two free throws. Primas then forced a turnover and finished at the other end, and suddenly Montclair was back within striking distance. Goss added a deep three with five minutes left in the half, sparking a surge that completely altered the game’s flow.
The Red Hawks turned defense into offense, forcing turnovers on consecutive possessions and converting them into points. Andrew Martin and Goss buried three-pointers, giving Montclair its first lead since the opening minutes. Tsering took control during the closing stretch of the half, scoring inside, battling on the glass, and drawing fouls. When Nicholson capped the run with another three, Montclair had stormed ahead by double digits. In the final five minutes of the half, the Red Hawks outscored William Paterson 20-5, heading into the locker room with a 51-40 lead that felt earned rather than lucky.
William Paterson refused to fade quietly. The Pioneers opened the second half with six straight points, trimming the margin and forcing Montclair to respond. Christian Cevis answered with a three, and Tsering followed with timely scoring to reestablish a double-digit lead. Still, William Paterson kept pushing, cutting the deficit to seven midway through the half as the crowd tried to will another run.
Each time the Pioneers gained traction, Montclair delivered a steady response. Free throws from Jacob Morales and Robertson slowed the pace, and the Red Hawks’ defense created more turnovers, leading to a Robertson layup and another Goss three that stretched the lead to 68–52. William Paterson mounted one more charge, pulling within seven again, but Montclair never lost control.
Nicholson knocked down a clutch three to halt the run, and Robertson took over from there. His pull-up three ignited a 15-2 Montclair run that drained the final bit of momentum from the building. Primas punctuated the stretch with a powerful dunk late, pushing the lead to 19 and effectively sealing the outcome.
Montclair State placed five players in double figures, led by Tsering and Robertson with 19 points apiece. Tsering delivered one of his most complete performances of the season, finishing a perfect 5-for-5 from the field while adding nine rebounds. Robertson provided poise and scoring late, repeatedly answering William Paterson’s pushes. Nicholson and Goss chipped in 15 points each, with Goss connecting on five three-pointers, while Primas added 13 points and steady energy throughout.
Beyond the scoring, Montclair’s defense told the story. The Red Hawks forced 22 turnovers and converted them into 34 points, wearing down the Pioneers over 40 minutes.
After the game, Potts praised his team’s resolve.
“Proud of the way our guys fought,” Potts said. “Road games in the NJAC are never easy and William Paterson battled us the whole night. Kunga and Ahmad gave us great minutes off the bench. We need to keep looking to get better as we continue with each game.”
With the win, Montclair State remain the only undefeated Division III team in the country and one of just five unbeaten teams across all NCAA levels. More importantly, in a hostile gym against a familiar rival, the Red Hawks once again showed the discipline, depth, and toughness that have defined their season.
