WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? Despite a combined 49 points from the Monmouth University freshmen trio, the Hawks fell to defending NEC Champion, Mount St. Mary's, 72-62 on Saturday night in Boylan Gym.
The Hawks' rookies, led by Travis Taylor's career-high 23 points and five rebounds, connected on 19 of Monmouth's 24 field goals in the contest. Taylor, who connected on 10-of-17 from the floor, added five rebounds and three assists, while Will Campbell added 15 and Mike Myers Keitt chipped in with 11 points and four boards.
Monmouth, mired in a seven-game losing streak, falls to 6-21 overall and 4-10 in the NEC. Mount, winners of 11 of its last 12, improves to 16-10 and 11-4.
Mount opened the contest with the first five points, capped by Jeremy Goode's three-point play at18:22. The Hawks rattled off the next 10, capped by consecutive three-pointer from Dutch Gaitley and Mike Myers Keitt, to snare a 10-5 edge, with 15:08 remaining.
Sam Atupem stopped the Monmouth run with a layup at 14:54, but a short jumper from Will Campbell and James Hett's fast break lay-in, pushed the Hawks' advantage to 14-7 at 14:12.
Back-to-back Goode trifectas pulled the Mountaineers within 14-13 at the 12:52 mark. After a Travis Taylor layup put the Hawks ahead, 16-13, Goode pushed his point total to 11, with a pair of free throws, and Jean Cajou's baseline jumper put MSM back in front, 17-16, with 11:01 on the clock.
After two close-range jump shots went down for Will Holland, Will Campbell's three-pointer and drive to the hoop, put Monmouth in front 24-21 with 8:16 left in the half.
Cajou's leak-out, fast break layup off a Monmouth missed field goal, reclaimed the lead for the Mountaineers, 25-24, with 6:32 showing. MSM pushed its spurt to 6-0, and claimed a 27-24 edge, when Goode's dropped in a bank shot along the left wing.
Monmouth, which went scoreless for 5:07, pulled within 27-26 on a set of Campbell foul shots at the 3:09 mark, but Cajou's trey in transition gave the Mount a 30-26 lead with 2:33 showing.
After Taylor's scoop pulled the Hawks within two points, the Mountaineers registered two offensive rebounds and putbacks in the final 1:45, including Cajou's lay-in with two seconds left, to take a 34-28 lead at the intermission.
The Mount notched the first seven points out of the break to claim a 41-28 lead just two and a half minutes into the second stanza, which capped a 20-4 scoring run over 10:45 of action.
Following Taylor's one-handed dunk with 15:26 on the clock, the Blue and White pulled within 45-36, and Taylor's baby hook and a Hett free throw made the score 45-39 with 13:21 showing.
After the Hawks pulled within six, back-to-back offensive rebounds and putbacks, pushed the advantage back to double-digits, 49-39, with 11:55 on the clock.
Monmouth trimmed the Mount's lead to 55-47 with 6:01 left, on a Taylor short jump shot in the lane, but consecutive Goode baskets and a Holland three-pointer, inflated the lead to 15, 64-49, with 2:45 remaining.
Goode led the Mount with 21 points, while Kelly Beidler added a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Cajou notched 13 points, as well.
Mount St. Mary's hit 55.8% from the field, and outrebounded Monmouth 40-25, which included 12 offensive caroms.
Monmouth returns to action on Thursday, February 19th, when the Hawks host Robert Morris in Northeast Conference action, in Boylan Gym. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
