WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- Monmouth University's men's basketball team (2-8, 0-1 NEC) fell to the visiting Rider Broncs (7-4, 1-1 MAAC), 76-55 on Saturday night in Boylan Gym.
Rider expanded on its 15-point halftime lead by outscoring Monmouth 7-0 in the first three minutes of the second frame, to take a commanding 42-20 lead. Whitney Coleman (Salem, Conn./East Lyme) broke the MU scoring draught with a shot from beyond the arc at the 16:53 mark, then followed up with another trey to boost the Hawk offense. Monmouth's defense had a hard time containing preseason All-American Jason Thompson who scored his 18th point of the game on a one handed dunk with 10:31 to play in regulation. Rider cruised the rest of the way, sealing the 76-55 victory.
The two defenses took center stage in the opening minutes, with it taking more than three minutes for the game's first bucket, which came on a Harris Mansell jumper. Guard Jhamar Youngblood (Elizabeth, N.J./St. Patricks) hit a three pointer to cut the Rider lead to one before Alex Nunner (Leibnitz, Austria/Bhak Bruck Mur) knocked down a trey to tie the game at 8-8 with 13:20 to play in the first half. The Broncs used back-to-back breakaway dunks to take a four point lead, which was part of an 18-3 Rider run over a seven minute span. Freshman George Barbour (Torrance, Calif./Torrance) finally broke the Hawk scoring drought with a layup at the 5:49 mark. Rider headed into locker room ahead 35-20.
The Broncs shot 53.1 percent from the floor, compared to Monmouth's 33.9 shooting percentage. MU struggled from the charity stripe, converting just 50 percent from the line.
R.J. Rutledge (Baldwin, N.Y./Northfield Mount Herman Prep) led Monmouth with 13 points, while fellow freshman Nick DelTufo (Mendham, N.J./West Morris Mendham) finished with 11. Youngblood was the third Hawk to score in double digits with 10. Dutch Gaitley (Haverford, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) led MU on the glass with five rebounds as the Hawks were out-rebounded 39-29.
Thompson led all scorers and rebounders with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Harris chipped in 13 points and eight on the glass.
The Hawks will look for its first home win of the season on Dec. 23, 2007 when they host Florida Atlantic in Boylan Gym.
