MONTCLAIR, N.J. -- Sophomore forward Michael Lofton (Mansfield, Mass.) scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as Bridgewater State University overcame a 15-point deficit in the second half to defeat Montclair State University, 78-75, in the opening round of the Montclair State Basketball Alumni Team Hill Holiday Classic on Friday evening at the Panzer Athletic Center.

Bridgewater State, which snapped a three-game losing streak in improving its season record to 4-5, now advances to the tournament's championship game against Mary Washington, which held on for an 82-81 win over Keene State in the other first round game, tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. The Bears, who won the holiday tournament in 2005, beat Montclair State, 68-67, in the tournament's first round that year, their only previous meeting.

Montclair State, which fell to 4-7 on the season, will now play Keene State in the third place game tomorrow at 1 p.m.

MSU used a few scoring runs to dominate the first half and held the lead for the majority of the contest The Red Hawks jumped out to an 11-2 start with the help of sophomore guard John Yates (Bear, Del.), who scored six of his 12 points in the run.

Following a brief Bridgewater State rally, Montclair State finally broke open the period with a 15-4 outburst and held a 39-26 advantage with 1:56 left in the opening stanza. Junior forward Ordel Goldson (Hackettstown, N.J.), who scored 13 of his team-high 21 points in the first half, led the scoring spree before MSU went into the halftime, ahead 39-27.

Trailing 44-29 with 19:32 to play in the second half, Bridgewater State began its comeback effort. The Bears shot 64.3 percent from the field in the second half, clawing their way back into the game. Lofton scored 17 of his points in the period along with junior guard Brendan Monteiro (Brockton, Mass.), who scored 20 points in the game, 17 in the second half.

Down 60-59 with 8:09 remaining, Bridgewater State took the lead for good following two Monteiro free throws and held its biggest bulge at 74-69 with 1:08 left.

Despite making just two field goals and just one of six foul shots over the final 3:19, Montclair State was still alive at the end. Behind 75-73 with 27 seconds left, MSU had a chance to tie the contest when freshman forward Kevin McGorry (Rutherford, N.J.) went to the foul line for two shots, But McGorry, who scored 10 points in the game, missed both tries.

After senior forward Anthony Fortes (Providence, N.J.) made the first of two free throws to make it 76-73 with 11 seconds on the clock, Bridgewater State then iced the game when the missed second try was tipped into the basket during a struggle for the rebound.

Senior guard Ken Rubenstein (South Orange, N.J.) also reached double figures for Montclair State with 19 points, including 11 in the second half.