WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? Monmouth, which held Central Connecticut State to its lowest field goal percentage of the season, notched its second straight home victory, as the Hawks topped the Blue Devils, 58-47, on Monday night in Boylan Gym. Gripping a two-point lead with 4:54 remaining, Monmouth held CCSU scoreless for the remainder of the contest for the victory.
"This was a typical, old-fashioned Monmouth-Central Connecticut game, low-scoring," commented head coach Dave Calloway.
The Hawks (4-12, 2-2 NEC), winners of two straight for the first time this season, upended the Blue Devils (5-8, 1-2 NEC), by holding the visitors to 22 second half points, and 31.0% from the field (15-of-58). Monmouth's bench also outscored CCSU's 30-10 in the game, led by freshman Travis Taylor's 11 points, five rebounds and four blocks. Alex Nunner and R.J. Rutledge also scored in double-figures for the Hawks, chipping in 10 points each.
Monmouth, which surrendered just one three-point field goal to the Blue Devils (1-for-13), hit 7-of-16 from beyond the arc.
"We are getting better, and that week of practice really helped us as a team," added Calloway, who earned his 110th career NEC victory with the win.
Yaniv Simpson opened the second half by hitting a three-pointer, pushing the Hawk lead to 33-25 out of the break. Central's offense began to heat up over the next three minutes while the Hawks, who could not convert on four consecutive trips up the floor, found their lead dwindle to two, 38-36, with 15:22 remaining.
Over the next five minutes Monmouth built a 46-38 lead, but four straight Blue Devil points cut into MU's advantage with under eight to play. A layup by CCSU's Shemik Thompson got his squad within two (46-44) but two possessions later Simpson hit his third shot from beyond the arc, to give the Hawks a 49-44 advantage. Central answered with a three of its own but Taylor pushed the lead back to four on an inside move and basket.
Clinging to a five-point advantage, Dutch Gaitley forced a CCSU turnover and called timeout, giving the Hawks possession with 1:28 remaining.
The Hawks opened up an 11 point lead on a pair of Nunner free throws with 35 seconds remaining, clinching their second conference victory.
Monmouth got a spark early on with Simpson's three, which gave MU a brief lead, but the Blue Devils went on a 8-2 run over the opening four minutes to take a 10-5 lead into the first media timeout. Back to back inside buckets by Taylor and Rutledge slashed the Central Connecticut lead to three, 16-13, with 9:52 showing on the clock.
A George Barbour jumper closed to gap to 18-17 with 5:48 to play before freshman Will Campbell hit a trey from the right wing to give Monmouth its first lead, 20-18, since the opening minute. Defense was the key to MU's play over the next few minutes, getting three consecutive stops while opening up a 22-18 lead.
Monmouth then outscored the Blue Devils, 8-2 in the final 90 seconds to take a 30-25 lead into the break.
The two teams tied in rebounds with 36 apiece, while MU hit 12-of-14 from the charity stripe in the second half.
Added Calloway, "Our fans are always great, and tonight they were loud, which is always a help to the team."
Monmouth returns to action on January 8, when the Hawks travel to St. Francis (N.Y.) for a 7 p.m. NEC contest in Brooklyn Heights.
