MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The TCNJ men's basketball team was defeated by Montclair State University on Saturday by a final score of 72-63.

TCNJ (11-8, 7-5 NJAC) net its first bucket of the day when Randall Walko converted on an and-one just two minutes into the game. A few minutes later, Jordan Glover controlled an offensive rebound and threw down a dunk to make it a 5-4 lead. Walko was locked in in the first half, and his lay-up off of a Joe Montano assist would cut the Red Hawk lead to 19-13 with 8:10 to go in the opening half.

Glover would net the next five points for the Lions, as he hit a three ball then a lay-up to pull TCNJ within 21-18 with 7:11 to go in the first. With 1:10 to play in the half, Walko net his 12^th and 13^th points off of an assist from Glover. Montclair State led 34-29 after the first half.

The Red Hawks took a double digit lead as they went up 47-37 with 13:42 to play in the game, but the Lions were able to shrink the deficit to six by way of a 10-4 stretch. Travis Jocelyn was fouled and hit a pair of free throws, then P.J. Ringel came up with a steal and scored on a fast break to make it 49-43.

Walko got the lead back down to 53-48 when he connected from three-point land after controlling an offensive rebound. With just under three minutes to play, two Glover free throws made it a 59-55 game, however the Lions would not get any closer than that as Montclair State controlled the final minutes to grab the win.

Niall Carpenter scored 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the floor and added six rebounds. Walko scored 16 as well on an even 50 percent (7-of-14) from the field to go with four boards. Glover scored 11 points, while Ryan Jensen corralled a game-high 11 rebounds.

The Lions will return to the hardwood on Monday, Jan. 28 for a makeup game against Rutgers-Newark. Tip is set for 8:00 p.m.