WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Monmouth University posted its third straight victory with a 55-42 win over Central Connecticut State on Thursday night. Monmouth, which held CCSU to its lowest offensive output of the season, improved to 6-9 overall and 2-1 in the Northeast Conference, behind Travis Taylor's sixth career double-double, and Justin Sofman's game-high 14 points.
Taylor, who had just two points at the half, recorded his fifth double-double of the season, adding 10 points and 10 rebounds to the effort, while Sofman went 4-for-9 from beyond the arc off the bench.
The Blue and White, who last opened an NEC slate at 2-1 in 2006-07, last won three straight games in the same campaign, when Monmouth strung together four straight victories in late-December and early-January.
Monmouth, which scored its first three baskets of the game from beyond the arc, knotted the contest at 9-9 with 16:21 remaining, as Will Campbell's second three-pointer of the stanza pulled the Hawks even. After tying the score, the Hawks increased their run to 8-0, and grabbed a 15-9 lead on James Hett's backdoor layup with 11:48 on the clock.
CCSU, which was held scoreless for just over seven minutes of action, pulled within 15-11, with 10:22 left on David Simmons' layin, and made the tally 15-13 on Joe Effese's offensive rebound and putback.
The Hawks responded with the next seven points, on baskets from Dutch Gaitley and Nick DelTufo, and a three-pointer from Sofman from the top of the key, to push Monmouth ahead 22-13, with 7:41 showing.
After calling timeout, the Blue Devils' Robby Ptacek trimmed the advantage to 22-16 on a wing trifecta, but the Hawks held a 26-18 lead on Whitney Coleman's drive with 5:17 on the clock.
Monmouth, which forced two shot clock violations in the first half, held CCSU to just three points in the final four minutes of the half, and went into the break with a 32-23 lead on Campbell's three-pointer at the buzzer - the second straight game the Hawks went into the locker room on the heels of a horn-beating, halftime trey.
Taylor's layup 32 seconds into the second half, gave the Hawks a double-digit lead, 34-23, out of the break, and Sofman's second trifecta put Monmouth in front 37-25 with 14:58 remaining. After a pair of Sofman foul shots, Taylor's basket at the rim off an inbounds play, gave the Hawks a 41-27 lead with 12:00 minutes left.
CCSU, which managed just two Markeys Deans' baskets in the opening 8:35 of the half, pulled within 41-30 on Joe Seymore's wing three-pointer, with 10:50 showing.
Back-to-back Taylor jumpers increased Monmouth's advantage to 45-30, but a second Seymore trifecta allowed the Blue Devils to climb within 45-33 at the eight-minute mark.
After Sofman's answer from three-point range put Monmouth ahead 48-33, the Blue Devils notched a pair of baskets in the lane to pull within 48-37 with 4:20 remaining.
Sofman, who hit his third trey of the half, and fourth of the contest, put Monmouth ahead 51-37 with 2:44 left.
Campbell was the third Hawk in double-figures, adding 13 points and three steals, while Hett tallied eight assists and four steals, as Monmouth notched a season-best 14 thefts in the game.
CCSU, which fell to 4-9 overall and 1-2 in the league, was led by Deans, who netted 10 points and seven rebounds, while Simmons hauled in 12 boards.
Monmouth returns to action on Saturday, January 9, when the Hawks host Bryant, at 7:00 p.m.
POSTGAME TRANSCRIPTS
1/710 VS. CCSU
MONMOUTH HEAD COACH DAVE CALLOWAY
Opening Remarks:
"It is always good to win at home, and we hope to have a good day tomorrow (at practice) and got another win on Saturday."
On Justin Sofman and Will Campbell:
"Justin really stepped up for us tonight. Will stepped it up early."
FORWARD TRAVIS TAYLOR
"They (CCSU) played real hard and are real physical."
On being taken out of the game by Coach Calloway after struggling offensively early
"It was very important to be taken out, and to settle down, because i was getting excited. I'm a young person, and it takes a coach to settle us down."
CCSU HEAD COACH HOWIE DICKENMAN
Opening Remarks:
"I thought our defense was pretty good, but they executed well, and we can't score. We're not going to make shooters tomorrow."
On Monmouth
"They are the most improved team since last year by far in this league."
On Travis Taylor
"We tried to double down on him. He is the most versatile big man in the league."
