JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Playing in the 6:00 a.m. game of the ESPN Tip-Off Marathon, Monmouth fell in non-conference action at Saint Peter's, 58-34, on Tuesday morning at the Yanitelli Center.
Monmouth (1-2), playing its third game in five days to open the season, was led by sophomore
Travis Taylor's 12 points and six rebounds, while off the bench,
Will Campbell added nine points and
Ed Waite corralled 10 rebounds.
After
Whitney Coleman's drive tied the game at 2-2, Monmouth took its first lead of the contest at 7-6 behind a Taylor three-point play with 14:23 remaining until the break. SPC (1-1) responded with a 9-0 run, highlighted by Wesley Jenkins' corner three-pointer, with 9:47 left, to give the Peacocks at 15-7 lead.
Following a pair of Campbell free throws, which pulled the Hawks within 15-9, Nick Leon connected on the Peacocks' second straight trey to push the lead to 18-9 with 9:04 showing, and SPC continued its run, inflating the lead to 22-9 with 6:08 left.
After going scoreless for nearly four minutes, the Hawks responded with a 5-0 spurt behind a Waite free throw, Taylor's post-up and two
Justin Sofman foul shots, to trim the lead to 22-14, with 4:37 remaining.
Monmouth, which connected on just one field goal in the final 14:23 of the half, fell behind 27-16 at the break.
For the first six minutes out of the intermission, the Hawks and Peacocks traded baskets, as Monmouth climbed within 33-23 with 14:16 left on Sofman's three-pointer off an offensive rebound from Waite. SPC answered with a 12-2 run over the next six minutes to increase its lead to 45-25.
After a pair of Taylor free throws stopped a 7-0 run, SPC got consecutive three-pointers to fall and an offensive putback, to increase the lead to 53-27 with 3:47 on the board.
Monmouth, which ended with its lowest point total since November 16, 2007 (33 points against Notre Dame) connected on a season-low 21.3% from the field (10-of-47) and 57.1% from the free throw line (12-for-21) in the defeat.
Sofman chipped in seven points and a pair of assists for the Blue and White, while
James Hett added five rebounds and three steals.
Monmouth returns to action on Monday, November 23, when the Hawks travel to Lehigh University for a non-conference contest at 7:00 p.m.
