WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Penn College was edged at the buzzer, 89-87, by regionally ranked Montclair State in the final game of the Crosstown Challenge Saturday. The Red Hawks improved to 2-0, while the Wildcats suffered their first loss of the season and fell to 2-1.
How it happened: After Ahmir Ellzy's trey tied the game at 87, with nine seconds left in the game, Montclair netted the game-winner on inbound pass from Kieran Flanagan to Kung Tsering at the buzzer to the secure the win.
The Wildcats battled back from a 17-point, 79-62, deficit with 10 minutes left the in the game. A 12-1 run, spanning four minutes, made it 80-74 on
Max Jackowsky's layup with 6:14 remaining in the game. Jackowsky later made it a three-point contest when his trey with 34 seconds made it 85-82.
Gavin Barrett's layup with 21 seconds left got the Wildcats within one, 85-84, until Montclair matched that score with a layup with 15 seconds and an 87-84 advantage, setting up Ellzy's long ball four second later.
The Hawks held the lead for nearly the first 10 minutes of the game until DJ Smith III nailed a jumper with 10:09 before the break to tie the game at 26. After six more ties, Jackowsky gave PCT a 45-42 lead on a traditional three-point play with 2:28 before the break. Following a Montclair layup,
Michael Woolridge's free throw put the Wildcats ahead, 46-44, with 24 seconds left before the Hawks tied the game on a layup as time expired in the first half.
Inside the box:
Livingston Cross scored a team-high 21 points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds for his second straight double-double and was named to the all-tournament team. Jacksowsky finished with 17 points, Ellzy added 16, and Barrett finished with 14 points and a game-best seven assists.
Up next: Penn College returns to action Wednesday, 5 p.m., at William Patterson.
