SCHENECTADY, NY – Senior forward Daniel McRae (Orange, NJ) scored 15 points and had a game high nine rebounds to lead Montclair State to a 65-63 victory over Elms College in the first game of the 2010 Sig Makofski Invitational Tournament at Union College Monday night.
The Red Hawks improved to 9-3 with their third straight triumph, while the Blazers fell to 6-3. Montclair State faces Gordon in Tuesday’s 8 p.m. Championship Game, while Elms plays in the Consolation Game at 6 p.m. against host Union.
David McDaniel (Plainfield, NJ) added 10 points, seven rebounds and four steals and Ali Mix (East Orange, NJ) scored 11 points for the Red Hawks, who shot 46% for the game. Sean Young (Scotch Plains, NJ) also hit in double digits with 10 points off the bench for Montclair State.
Elms was led by Juan Maldonado (Holyoke, MA), who recorded five steals with his 14 points. Edgar Martinez (Springfield, MA) and Brittain Purcelle (Tarrytown, NY) each scored 13 points and Bryant Corcoran (Wolcott, CT) added 12 for the Blazers. Elms shot 38% for the contest but posted a 40-37 rebounding advantage.
Elms jumped out to a 16-9 lead six minutes into the game. After the hosts led 32-26 with 5:31 left in the period, the Red Hawks went on a 8-3 run to pull to within one with 2:38 left at 33-32. McDaniel scored all 10 of his points in the first half, and Elms had a 35-32 lead at the half. The Blazers had a 20-8 point advantage in the paint during the half.
The teams remained close throughout the second half, with neither team leading by more then three points. A jumper by McRae gave the Red Hawks a 59-56 lead with 4:55 left, but Purcelle made a three point play as his free throw tied it at 59-59 with 4:45 left. It was tied at 63-63 with 1:42 left on a jumper by Mix, but after a timeout, then a foul by Martinez with 33 seconds left, young made both free throws for the Red Hawks for the final.
