Recap: Men Top Johnson College; Win 2nd Straight

BLUE BELL, Pa. - Shaakir Gibbs and Kevin Woods combined for 51 points and Anthony Patterson racked up his sixth double-double of the season as the Mustangs outlasted the Jaguars of Johnson College, 119-109, in Region XIX action Saturday afternoon.

The triumph comes two days after the Mustangs defeated Bucks and marks Montgomery's first two-game winning streak this season. In fact, the team has earned three victories in its last four games and now has eight for the season.

Seven players scored in double figures for the Mustangs, who led the Jaguars by as many as 17 in the second half.

"We were really sloppy for most of the game, but the guys fought enough to pull out the win," said Head Men's Basketball Coach Denny Surovec.

A key stretch came late in the first half as the Mustangs turned away a Jaguars rally. After the visitors closed to within six at 50-44, Montgomery finished out the half with a 9-0 run to take a 59-44 lead into the locker room.

"It feels good to finally start stringing some wins together," Surovec said.

It was also good to see Patterson back on the floor after missing three games due to injury. He led Montgomery with 10 rebounds while adding 13 points and five assists.

Gibbs and Woods, meanwhile, continued their torrid pace of late.

Gibbs scored double figures for an eighth straight game, leading the Mustangs with a team-high 26 points. He has tallied 21 or more points in seven of the eight games he has played in.

Woods' 25-point effort has the second-year player within four points of 500 for his career at Montgomery. His output Saturday marked the fifth straight game he has placed in double figures and was his third 25-point game of the season and second in the last five contests.

Montgomery converted 55 percent of its field goals, including nine from three-point range. Johnson College made good on 42 of its 101 shots, including just five of 31 opportunities from beyond the arc. The Jaguars held the edge in free throws and rebounds.

Ryan Brennan finished with 14 points for the Mustangs, while Nicko Balis dished out a team-high eight assists to go along with 13 points. Brendan Watton registered a team-high five steals, along with five rebounds and 12 points. Kanen Horton scored 12 points and pulled down six rebounds. Both Gibbs and Woods grabbed five rebounds apiece; Woods added six assists.

Montgomery hosts Ocean County College in its home finale Tuesday at 8 pm. Prior to the game the Mustangs will recognize their second-year players.

- By Bob Kent, Sports Information Director