BOCA RATON, FLA. - The Monmouth University men's basketball team fell 72-69 in its season opener at Florida Atlantic University, on Friday night in FAU Arena. FAU, which connected on 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the final 1:11 sealed the victory, despite it being a one-point contest in the final seconds.

Trailing by as many as 12 points with 14:15 remaining, Monmouth pulled within one point, with 1.3 seconds, 70-69, when R.J. Rutledge hit his career-best tying fourth three-pointer of the game. Paul Graham, who finished with a game-high 19 points, connected on two free throws with 0.4 ticks showing to seal the win for the Owls.

"It's frustrating because we had a chance to win our opening game, on the road, and start the season off on the right foot," commented head coach Dave Calloway."

Monmouth, which opened the game hitting just 2-for-10 from the field, found itself trailing by six, 14-8 with 11:25 left, before Rutledge scored the next eight points for the Hawks, including two three-pointers.  After an Alex Nunner layup pulled the Hawks within 20-18, Travis Taylor pulled Monmouth square at 20-20 with his offensive rebound and putback.

Out of the media timeout with 6:37 remaining, Whitney Coleman drained a three to give the Hawks a 23-20 advantage, their first lead of the contest.

Nunner's corner trifecta knotted the score at 31-31 with 3:26 showing, before FAU scored the next seven points, including two dunks and Graham's fourth three-pointer of the half to give the Owls a 38-31 lead, which held until the break.

Consecutive baskets from James Hett and Nunner, a pull-up jumper in transition, pulled Monmouth within 38-35 with 19:13 remaining, but the Owls scored the next eight points to claim a 46-35 lead with 15:43 left.

FAU pushed the lead to 50-36, with 13:37 left after two Xavier Perkins free throws, before Rutledge's drive and basket made the score 50-40 at the 12:20 mark.
Monmouth, which held FAU to just four free throws for a four-minute stretch, pulled within 52-44 with 9:42 left after back-to-back post move baskets from Taylor. Hett's successful one-and-one made the tally 54-48 with 8:13 left, after the guard secured a rebound on the defensive end.

Rutledge's third trey of the game, came from the corner in front of the Monmouth bench, and made the score 59-53 with 6:47 showing, but the Owls responded with a 5-0 spurt to reclaim an 11-point edge with 5:20 left.

Hett's second three-point play of the game made the score 64-58 with 4:19 on the clock, and the Hawks pulled within 64-61 when Yaniv Simpson drained a three-pointer out of a timeout. After anther Monmouth defensive stop, Taylor made a free throw to make the score 64-62, but Brett Royster's two foul shots gave the Owls a four-point edge with 1:11 showing.

Following a stop, Taylor's lay-in brought Monmouth within 66-64 with 27 seconds left, but two more FAU free throws with 24 seconds left increased the lead back to four points. On the next trip down the floor, Taylor's tip in off a missed three-pointer made the score 68-66 with 8.5 ticks left, before Carderro Nwoji drilled two more from the line.

Monmouth had three players score in double-figures, paced by Rutledge's 18 points, as the sophomore hit 7-for-9 from the floor. Taylor's debut ended with 13 points and five rebounds, while Hett added 12 points and tied a career-best with eight assists. Gaitley, who added five points, hauled in a career-best 12 rebounds, as the Hawks outrebounded the Owls 33-29 in the contest.

The Hawks, who went 14-17 from the foul line, hit 43.6% from the floor, but allowed FAU to hit 48.1%, including seven three-pointers. FAU, which played seven players, had five Owls in double-figures.

Monmouth returns to action on Monday, November 17, when it faces FIU at 7 p.m., in Miami.