BROOKLYN, N.Y. ? Monmouth fell at Long Island University, 74-57, in Northeast Conference men's basketball action, on Thursday night.
Monmouth, which was led by freshman Will Campbell's 15 points, 11 of which came in the second half, falls to 6-20 overall and 4-9 in the league. Dutch Gaitley, who opened the contest by hitting his first three field goals, tied a season-high with 11 points, and grabbed eight rebounds.
LIU, which had four players score in double-figures, is now 8-5 in conference play, while evening its overall mark at 12-12 on the season.
Gaitley, who scored Monmouth's first seven points, gave the Hawks a 7-5 lead at 17:13, when the center drained a three-pointer, his third of the year.
Single free throws from the Blackbirds gave LIU an 11-9 edge with 13:30, before George Barbour's post move, at 12:46, knotted the score at 11-11. Arnold Mayorga's wing three put LIU in front 14-11, 18 seconds later, but two Campbell free throws, after a steal, pulled the Hawks within 16-15 at 11:17.
Gaitley's jump shot at 10:40 reclaimed the lead for Monmouth, 17-16, and the Hawks maintained an advantage, 19-18 with 7:53, when Travis Taylor connected on a bank shot. Monmouth took a 21-18 lead when Gaitley found Taylor on the block for a lay-in, with 7:13 left.
LIU answered with an 8-0 run, as the Hawks went scoreless for 5:16, to take a 26-21 lead on Julian Boyd's layup, before two Campbell foul shots made the score 26-23 with 1:57 showing. LIU's Kyle Johnson delivered two baskets in the final 50 seconds, including a layup off a Monmouth missed three-pointer, to pace the Blackbirds to a 30-23 lead at the intermission.
Aurimas Adomaitis's lay-up off an inbounds play, pushed LIU's lead to double-figures, 36-25, at 16:13, but Alex Nunner responded with a traditional three-point play, allowing Monmouth to climb within 36-28, with 15:38 showing.
Back-to-back breakaway layups by Jaytornah Wisseh pushed the Blackbird advantage to 42-28 with 13:42 left, forcing Monmouth to call a timeout. Out of the break, consecutive baskets from Nunner, who scored the Hawks' first seven points of the half, and James Hett, made the tally 42-32 with 12:58 remaining.
After Monmouth made the score 44-34 on Mike Myers Keitt's offensive rebound and basket, LIU answered with a 10-2 spurt over the next three minutes of play, to take a 54-36 advantage with 9:03 showing.
Consecutive Campbell treys, coupled with successful one-and-one trips from Nunner and Gaitley, pulled Monmouth within 56-46 at the 6:05 mark, but LIU answered with a 10-2 run over 3:28 to regain a 66-48 lead, and pushed the edge to 70-50 with 1:40 remaining.
Campbell, who has scored in double-figures in each of his last six contests, connected on three of the Hawks' four three-pointers in the game. Hett chipped in eight points, while Nunner added nine points and five rebounds. Myers Keitt hauled in a season-high tying seven boards as well.
Monmouth, which is now 0-13 on the road, returns to action on Saturday, February 14th, when the Hawks host defending NEC Champion Mount St. Mary's in Boylan Gym. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
