NJAC NEWS ARCHIVE

 2002-03

February 28, 2003


THIRD-SEEDED MONTCLAIR STATE TOPS TOP  SEED RAMAPO FOR MEN'S TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP


RED HAWKS WIN 2002-03 NJAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AND EARN LEAGUE'S AUTOMATIC BID TO THE NCAA DIVISION III TOURNAMENT


Montclair State senior guard Ben Martinez drove the length of the floor to score on a layup with 1.9 seconds remaining in the second overtime session to lift third-seeded Montclair State University to an 86-84 victory over top-seeded Ramapo College in the 2003 New Jersey Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Championship game at the Ramapo Athletic Center.

The victory gave Montclair State its first NJAC Tournament title since 1982 and garnered the NJAC’s automatic berth into the 2003 NCAA Division III Tournament. The Red Hawks, whose last postseason championship was the 2000 ECAC NY/NJ Metro title, last made the NCAA field in 1995.

Montclair also avenged a pair of regular-season losses to the Roadrunners, who claimed this year’s NJAC regular-season title with a 17-1 conference mark

Montclair State trailed, 84-80, with one minute remaining in the second overtime before beginning their comeback on a free throw by freshman guard Pierre Mitchellto cut the deficit to three. Mitchell eventually tied the game on a three-point shot from the right wing with 17 seconds left after Ramapo ran down the shot clock but failed to score. Martinez then grabbed a rebound with four seconds remaining and hustled down the left side before banking a one-handed shot off the glass to give the Red Hawks the win after the host Roadrunners had come back to tie the game at both the end of regulation and the first overtime period.

Martinez finished with 11 points and seven rebounds for the Red Hawks, who were led
in scoring by junior center Jerome Trawick and sophomore forward Michael Gluck, who each contributed 21 points. Trawick also posted a team-high 11 rebounds and six assists, while Gluck grabbed seven rebounds. Mitchell collected 18 points, hitting on 5-of-7 shots from long range, and also had two steals.

Ramapo senior guard Tennyson Whitted led the Roadrunners with 22 points and
eight assists as Ramapo fell for the first time since December 28, a span of 17 games. The defeat also marked the first Ramapo loss at home this season.

Montclair State will learn of its national tournament seeding on Sunday night when the NCAA announces the 2003 Division III Championship Tournament field. With a 24-3 overall record and only two losses in region, Ramapo remains a strong candidate for a Pool C at-large tournament berth.