HACKENSACK, N.J. - Monmouth, which cut a 22-point second-half deficit to 62-57 with 3:47 remaining in the game, dropped a 75-69 decision at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Northeast Conference action on Thursday night in Stratis Arena. Whitney Coleman's 18 points and eight rebounds, paced four Hawks in double-digits, as the Blue and White fell to 10-13 overall and 6-5 in the league.
A pair of free throws each from Ed Waite and Will Campbell claimed a 4-2 lead for the Hawks early, but FDU claimed a 10-6 lead with 14:24 remaining. On the next possession, James Hett drilled a wing three-pointer off of a curl, but Terence Grier answered from beyond the arc to push the Knights in front 13-9 with 13:20 left.
After falling behind by four, back-to-back hoops from Coleman and Waite pulled Monmouth even at 15-15 with 10:40 showing, but FDU responded with an 11-0 run over a 4:20 span, to take a 26-15 lead.
Following two foul shots from Mike Myers Keitt, which made the score 26-17, the Knights increased their run to 17-2 to coral a 32-17 advantage with 4:24 remaining until the break.
Campbell connected on a wing trifecta to pull Monmouth within 32-20 with 4:10 left in the half, but FDU inflated its lead to 18, 40-22, with 1:33 left on Sean Baptiste's trey and held a 40-24 edge at the half.
The Knights, who outscored the Hawks 25-9 over the final 10:40 of the first half, pushed the lead to 47-25 on Grier's layup with 17:05 remaining.
After falling behind by 22 points, Monmouth responded with an 11-2 spurt, seven of which came from the hands of Coleman, to pull the Hawks within 49-36 with 14:21 left in the game.
Monmouth ran its spurt to 19-4 when Coleman drilled a wing three-pointer to help the Hawks inch within 51-44 with 11:36 left, and after a defensive stop, Waite's free throw made the score 51-45 with 10:49 left.
The Hawks clawed within 55-49 on Nick DelTufo's second straight basket with 9:20 showing, but consecutive Baptiste layups reclaimed a double-digit advantage for the Knights, 59-49, with 8:14 remaining.
Out of a media timeout, Campbell drained a wing trifecta and after a turnover, the Hawks made it a five-point affair, 59-54, with 7:11 remaining on DelTufo's hoop.
After Mike Scott's three-point play gave FDU a 62-54 lead, Hett, Dutch Gaitely and Coleman each went 1-for-2 from the foul line to trim the advantage to 62-57 with 3:47 remaining.
Scott was successful on a pair of free throws in two straight trips for the Knights, which increased the lead to 66-57 with 2:36 left, and FDU claimed a 72-61 edge on a pair of Baptiste foul shots with 57.2 ticks left.
FDU increased the lead to 75-63 after a pair of free throws, before consecutive three-pointers from Coleman and Hett made the final tally 75-69.
DelTufo added 13 points, while Waite's 12 and Hett's 11-point, six-assist night, rounded out Monmouth's double-figure scorers, while Gaitley hauled in eight rebounds.
The Knights, who shot 52.7% from the floor for the game, were led by Baptiste's game-high 27 points and 10 rebounds, and Scott's 20 points and five assists.
To close out NEC Rivalry Week, Monmouth returns to action on Saturday, February 6, when the Hawks host Fairleigh Dickinson University in the final game of the Garden State Rivalry Series. Tip off for the MSG and FCS televised Northeast Conference game is set for 12:03 p.m.
