NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Highlighted by a career-high 25-point effort from junior Jesse Steele, Monmouth University dropped a 95-73 decision at No. 22/18 Vanderbilt University on Friday night in Memorial Gym. Monmouth, which outscored the nationally-ranked Commodores 46-45 in the second half, trailed 75-64 with 6:17 remaining in the road loss.

"I am proud of the way our guys played tonight," stated MU head coach King Rice, who had nine players dressed and lost Mike Myers Keitt to an ankle injury mid-way through the first half. "The guys in uniform played Monmouth Basketball and showed what we are trying to do here. They battled tonight, and I am proud of their effort."

The Hawks, who had three players in double-figures, led by Steele's career-best night, also got double-digit performances from Ed Waite (15 points, five rebounds, four steals) and Austin Tillotson (11 points). Steele, who connected on 9-of-17 from the floor, including four three-pointers, added five assists and three rebounds to the Hawks' effort.

Monmouth, which shot 51.7% from the field in the second half, trimmed a 26-point deficit to 11 over a 5:48 span.

Monmouth falls to 0-6 on the season, while the Commodores improve to 5-1 overall.

Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings stated, "We really got out-competed, particularly in the second half." "That's disappointing that their guys tried harder than our guys did. It's a very rare thing that you come out of a game winning and almost feeling like you lost, but that's how I feel. I feel that we really got out-worked, out-toughed, out-played and we won because we had superior talent and superior players - size, strength, athleticism, skill - but we lost the fight portion of the game."

Andrew Nicholas' jumper gave Monmouth a quick 2-0 edge, before the Commodores put together a 9-0 spurt over the next 3:34 to take a 9-2 lead at 16:05. A three-pointer from Myers Keitt halted the VU run, while his drive to the basket pulled the Hawks within 12-7 with 14:30 showing.

The Commodores responded with another 9-0 to go ahead 21-7, before Waite's lay-up off a feed from Max DiLeo, made the tally 21-9 with 10:46 remaining until the break.

The Hawks pulled within 23-13 following a drive from Steele and Tillotson's steal and short jumper, with 9:10 on the clock, but VU answered with a pair of jumpers in the lane from Jeffery Taylor, and a John Jenkins three-pointer, to take a 30-13 advantage at 7:25.

Another Jenkins' three-pointer put the Commodores ahead 33-15 before a baseline jumper from Nicholas, and a pair of Waite free throws made the score 33-19, with 4:59 left in the half.

VU retaliated with the next four points, before Steele drilled a three-pointer off an inbounds play to make the score 37-22, with 3:47 remaining. The Commodores answered Steele's trey with a 10-0 run in 1:55, to snare a 47-22 advantage with 1:32 left, and held a 50-27 lead at the break following another Steele trey with five seconds showing.

The Hawks opened the second half with a Waite three-point play to make the score 50-30, while their 6-0 spurt over a 1:08 span, allowed the Blue and White to climb within 57-38 with 16:15 left, following consecutive Steele baskets.

A three-pointer from Tillotson, the first of his career, allowed MU to climb within 64-43 with 13:58 showing on the board, and the Hawks strung together an 11-0 run over the next 3:28, which included two baskets each from Dion Nesmith and Waite, and another Tillotson trey, to climb within 71-56, with 7:56 left.

Monmouth continued its ascent on consecutive three-pointers from Nicholas and Steele, to climb within 75-64 with 6:17 showing, while Steele's traditional three-point play with 4:47 left, made the score 80-68.

Another Steele trifecta pulled MU within 86-71 at 3:09, but the Commodores outscored the Hawks 9-2 over the final 2:35 to secure the 95-73 home victory.

The Hawks connected on 44.8% from the floor overall, and hit 8-of-19 from beyond the arc, while VU hit 32-of-56 (57.1%) and 11 three-pointers. The Commodores had five players in double-figures, as Jenkins hit for 18 and Taylor and Brad Tinsley added 10 apiece.

Monmouth returns to action on Thursday, December 1 when the Hawks open Northeast Conference action at Saint Francis (Pa.), in DeGol Arena at 7:00 p.m.