STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. ? Monmouth freshman R.J. Rutledge drained a wing three-pointer with 1:28 remaining in the game to tie the score, but Wagner hit seven free throws in the final minute to hold on for a 68-61 win, in Northeast Conference men's basketball action on Saturday night.
Monmouth grabbed a 10-7 at 16:35 when Whitney Coleman drained a three-pointer from the wing, his second straight basket, but Wagner scored the next seven points over a 2:28-span, to claim a 14-10 lead with 14:07 remaining.
Wagner pushed the lead to 19-14 when Doug Elwell hit his second trey of the half with 12:37 showing, but Monmouth pulled within one, 19-18, after Nick DelTufo's dunk, with 10:17 left. The Seahawks responded with another 7-0 spurt to push the lead to 26-18, with 8:13 remaining in the opening stanza.
The Seahawks reclaimed an eight-point cushion, 33-25, with 2:15 remaining, but the Hawks ended the half on an 8-0 run to tie the score at 33-33 at the break. In the run, R.J. Rutledge delivered a three-point play, James Hett provided a layup and Yaniv Simpson drained a long three with 33 ticks showing.
Wagner went ahead 37-33 out of the break, but the Hawks battled to a 43-43 tie with 11:30 remaining when Jhamar Youngblood's free throw, which capped a 6-0 run, pulled Monmouth even.
The Seahawks answered with a 7-1 run over the next three minutes to go ahead 50-44, before Simpson's trey pulled Monmouth within 50-47, with 8:14 remaining. Wagner pushed the advantage to 55-47 with 6:39 left, but DelTufo's lay-in with 5:28 showing made the score 55-51.
DelTufo's tip-in with 2:20 left pulled Monmouth within three points, while Rutledge's wing three-pointer knotted the score at 59-59 with 1:28 left in the contest.
After Justin Drummond connected on one free throw with 1:04 remaining, to give Wagner a 60-59 advantage, Mark Porter followed with two foul shots with 38.8 left, to give the Seahawks a three-point edge.
With 28 ticks remaining, Simpson's corner three-point attempt rattled off the rim, and Porter scored the next three points from the line for the Seahawks, as Wagner built a 65-59 lead.
Alex Nunner hit two fouls shots, both ends of a one-and-one, with 18.6 seconds remaining, to pull Monmouth within 65-61, but Wagner hit just enough free throws down the stretch to hold on for the 68-61 victory.
Monmouth (5-20, 2-11 NEC) was led by DelTufo's 13 points. Rutledge finished with 10 points, while Simpson ended with nine on three treys. Hett finished with eight points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals. Youngblood dished out a career-high eight assists.
First-place Wagner was paced by the double-double duo of Vinson (19 points, 19 rebounds) and Porter (16 points, 10 rebounds).
Monmouth returns to action on Monday, February 18, when the Hawks take on Fairleigh Dickinson, as part of the Garden State Rivalry Series, in Teaneck. Tip-off for the televised NEC contest is set for 7:30 p.m.
