Montclair State bounces Salisbury, 78-71
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A close game with Montclair State University quickly got out of hand for the Salisbury University men's basketball team during the first round of the 29th Annual Greyhound Starters Classic. The Sea Gulls went cold during the final eight minutes of the first half and saw a 27-27 tie blow-up to a 43-32 Red Hawk lead going into the locker room at the half. 

Montclair (6-5) led the rest of the way en route to a 78-71 victory over Salisbury to snap the Gulls’ four-game win streak. The Sea Gulls (8-3) will play tomorrow (Sunday, January 7) against the loser of the second game on Saturday against Drew and Moravian.

Salisbury received all of its scoring from its starting five, led by senior backcourt duo Ray Williams (27 points) and Segun Odumeru (23 points). Sophomore Devin Jones was the other Gull in double figures with 15 points. Ozi Menakaya dominated the boards for SU as he grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds.

Montclair was paced by Jonathan Arthur (25 points) and Maurice Torres (20 points). The Red Hawks shot an amazing 7-for-10 from behind the three-point line in the first half. Montclair’s Ken Dudley drained a three at the buzzer to send the Red Hawks into the half up 11.

SU cut the MSU lead down to three, 52-49, on a Jonas Vaitkus jumper at the 13:42 mark in the second half. The Sea Gulls would not get closer as Montclair secured its sixth victory of the season.