Courtesy of MonmouthHawks.com
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – The Monmouth men’s basketball team erased a 13-point halftime deficit and an eight-point mark with 2:27 to go to force overtime, but eventually fell to Rider 93-90 in the extra session on Saturday afternoon in front of 3,128 at the OceanFirst Bank Center.
Micah Seaborn (Fort Worth, TX/Prime Prep Academy) knocked in two foul shots after Rider missed a pair of free throws on the other end with 9.9 seconds to go to tie the game for the first time since the 8:54 mark of the opening half. In overtime, Rider went up five with 29 seconds left on a Norville Carey layup to cap a 6-0 run after Austin Tilghman (Wilmington, DE/Archbishop Carroll) put the Hawks up two from the foul line. Justin Robinson (Lake Katrine, NY/Kingston) answered with a triple, and Kahlil Thomas split a pair from the charity stripe but MU’s final two attempts from deep to tie came up short and Rider picked up the win.
In the opening half, Monmouth built up a quick 12-point advantage at 14-2, but the Broncs stormed back with a 35-8 run, eventually taking a 13-point edge into the locker room. They held an 11-point advantage as late as the 11:39 mark of the second half, with MU eventually closing to force the extra period.
NOTES AND QUOTES
“It was a tough one for the Hawks today,” said head coach King Rice. “Give Rider and Kevin [Baggett] all the credit, they did a great job and had a great game plan and today we did not have our best night.
“We’re struggling right now with some of our things but we will definitely get them back under control so we can continue to get better.”
-Monmouth is now 19-28 all-time against Rider.
-The Hawks start 2-1 in the MAAC for the second year in a row.
-Today marks just the second time in the last two seasons that Monmouth has been defeated in back-to-back games.
-The loss snaps a three-game winning streak over Rider.
-MU has scored 80+ points in nine of 10 games.
-Justin Robinson tied Chris Kenny for career threes with 195.
-Robinson played a season-high 41 minutes, and is now sixth all-time in minutes played.
-MU started a lineup of Robinson, James, Stewart, Sarr and Brady for the first time this season.
-Four Hawks worked into double figures for the second consecutive game.
NUMBERS CRUNCH
– Monmouth scored 53 second half points, the second highest output of the season in the period.
– MU forced 18 Rider turnovers.
– The Hawks outran the Broncs to the tune of 18-0 on the fast break.
– MU’s bench outscored Rider’s 37-16.
– It was the second consecutive game Monmouth played in where there were 50+ combined fouls called.
– Kahlil Thomas posted a double-double for Rider with 17 points and 13 boards.
– Justin Robinson scored 28 points to lead all scorers, his fifth 20+ outing this year.
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