WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - It was John Bunch's (Randallstown, Md./Randallstown) career-highs in points (23) and rebounds (12) coupled with the stingy MU defense that propelled the Hawks to a 62-56 win over Mount Saint Mary's Saturday night at Boylan Gym.
“Our defense won us this game, especially in the second half,” said MU head coach Dave Calloway.
The Hawk defense held Mount to 56 points, including 27 in the second half, marking the fourth-consecutive game that they held an opponent under 60. Monmouth improves to 7-8 overall and 2-1 in the Northeast Conference with the win. Mount St. Mary's falls to 3-11 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
Despite a turnover-plagued first half, the Hawks were down just four to start the second frame. Dejan Delic's (Belgrade, Serbia/Bridgton Academy) three pointer cut the lead to one but a quick Mount jumper restored the lead to three. A Marques Alston (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) jumper put the score at 32-31 with 15:50 showing on the clock. After a Mount airball, MU sophomore guard Whitney Coleman (Salem, Conn./St. Thomas More) banged a three ball, give the Hawks a two point lead and forcing Mount St. Mary's to call timout. At the 14:10 mark, Delic hit his second three pointer of the half to give the Hawks their largest lead of the half at 37-32.
Trailing by eight, the Mountaineers rattled off five straight points before Delic dropped a long three pointer to put the Hawks ahead 45-39 with just over nine minutes to play. With MU holding on to an eight-point lead, Mount launched a 6-0 run to slice the lead to 49-47 with 5:45 left in regulation. Bunch earned his first double-double of the season on the next trip up the floor, getting his own rebound and putting it back in for his 21st point, which sets a career-high. Freshman Jhamar Youngblood (Newark, N.J./St. Patrick's) hit a three pointer to put the Hawks up seven, which was answered immediately by Mount's Beidler. Mychal Kearse then hit a jumper just over Bunch's reach to slice the lead to 54-52 with under three minutes to play.
It was the big man Bunch who came up big in the final two minutes of the game, scoring to give the Hawks a four-point lead then registering his fourth block of the night, sending Vann's jump shot into the stands. Up by four with 22 seconds left Mount was forced to foul, giving Delic an opportunity to put the Hawks up by six with an one-and-one. Delic hit both, as did Youngblood on the Hawks next possession as MU clinched the 62-56 victory.
Mount St. Mary's used two Chris Vann three pointers, coupled with four Hawk turnovers to earn a 10-5 lead through the first five minutes of play. Alston cut the lead to three after getting a rebound and hitting a runner, which was followed up by Delic hitting a three pointer to tie the game after a Mount turnover. A pair of Bunch free throws put MU up 12-10, giving the Hawks the lead for the first time since their opening possession. A Will Holland three-pointer gave the Mountaineers a 15-12 lead with just over seven minutes to play in the half.
Bunch regained the lead for the Hawks, scoring four-straight points, two on a layup and two from the charity stripe. The teams traded buckets over the next four minutes a stretch that included two layups from MU's 7-2 senior center. Mount took a three point lead with 1:16 to play on a Kelly Beidler layup. Holland hit a last-second three pointer to give MSM a 29-25 lead going into the break. Sophomore Alex Nunner (Leibnitz, Austria/Bhak Bruck Mur) set a career-high in rebounds, grabbing six in the first 20 minutes of play.
Bunch led all scorers with a career-high 23 points. He also led all players on the glass with 12 rebounds, also a career high, including six offensive and six defensive. Delic finished with 21 points, including four from beyond the arc. Alston finished with five rebounds and eight points, while Coleman dished out six assists.
Vann led the Mount with 13 points, with Beidler chipping in 10. The visitors committed 15 turnovers and shot 42 percent from the floor. Monmouth shot 47 percent from the floor and out-rebounded MSM 36-25.
Monmouth is back in action on Thurs. Jan. 11 at Sacred Heart. The game is set for 7 p.m.
