STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Monmouth battled third-place Wagner to the final buzzer before falling 63-60 at the Spiro Sports Center in Northeast Conference action, on Saturday afternoon. Monmouth, which has now played five straight results within a five-point conclusion, was led by Marcus Ware's career-high tying 20 points and seven rebounds, while Mike Myers Keitt added 13 points and seven boards.

The Hawks, who have played 16 games, including eight in conference play, within five points, fall to 6-18 on the year, and 2-10 in the NEC. Wagner, the league's leading free throw shooting team, connected on 18-of-21 from the line, including all six attempts in the final 2:42, to improve to 12-11 and 8-4 league play.

Trailing 61-55, Monmouth forced a shot clock violation with 1:20 left, before two Ware free throws made the score 61-57 with 1:03 on the clock. Out of a Wagner timeout, MU forced another turnover with 1:00 remaining, and Myers Keitt drilled two more free throws to pull the Hawks within 61-59 with 50.9 left.

With 20.0 seconds remaining, Wagner missed a jumper and on the ensuing trip down the floor, Myers Keitt was fouled on his drive with 9.4 left. Myers Keitt connected on the first but on the miss Monmouth was forced to foul Tyler Murray, who hit a pair with 8.2 left, giving WC a 63-60 edge.

Out of a timeout, Jesse Steele inbounded the ball to James Hett, who raced down the floor, but had his game-tying three-point attempt go long off the rim.

In an unorthodox opening, the Hawks started ahead 1-0 as Wagner was assessed a technical foul during pregame warm-ups, and Myers Keitt connected on his first of two attempts, and while holding the Seahawks scoreless for the first three minutes, Monmouth took a 4-0 lead on three straight Ware points.

Wagner answered with five straight points to haul in a 5-4 edge with 16:35 left in the half, but back-to-back baskets from Phil Wait and Myers Keitt gave Monmouth a 10-7 advantage at 11:56.

After a pair of Steele free throws gave Monmouth a 14-11 edge, the Seahawks rattled off a 7-0 spurt to haul in an 18-14 lead with 8:20 showing. A three-pointer from Myers Keitt ended the WC run, but the Seahawks held a 23-19 advantage with 5:40 left.

Two Hett free throws and a Ware three-point play reclaimed a lead for the Blue and White, 24-23, with 4:50 left until the break.
Latif Rivers' jumper from the wing gave Wagner a one-point edge 30 seconds later, but on Steele's lay-in, Monmouth took a 28-25 cushion with 3:01 showing. Behind a pair of three-pointers from Chris Martin, and Rivers with 5.4 seconds left, the Seahawks grabbed a 31-28 lead at the intermission.

Wagner, which netted the final six points of the first stanza, grabbed a 33-28 edge out of the break, but Monmouth climbed within 33-32 on a pair of R.J. Rutledge foul shots, with 18:22 left.

After two Myers Keitt foul shots made the score 37-34, the Seahawks netted eight straight following a technical foul called on MU, to take a 45-34 lead with 14:56 showing.

Steele ended a 2:33 scoreless draught for the Hawks with a pair from the line, but Tyler Murray's three-point play reclaimed a double-digit lead for the Seahawks, 48-37, with 13:26 remaining.

Monmouth took advantage of two technical foul shots, and coupled with an Ed Waite free throw, the Hawks climbed within 48-40 at 12:31. The Hawks increased their run to 8-1 and pulled within 49-45 on Rutledge's corner three-pointer, and made it a two-point contest, 51-49 on two Rutledge free throws with 8:35 left.

Following MU's 12-3 run, Wagner capitalized on four straight free throws to coral a 55-49 lead, before Waite's drive with 6:20 showing, made the score 55-51.

Monmouth, which attempted a season-high 39 free throws, hit a season-best 30 from the line, including a combined 16-for-23 from Myers Keitt and Ware. Hett and Rutledge each chipped in with seven points for the Hawks.

Wagner, which had three players in double-figures, led by Rivers' 27 points, attempted 20 more field goals (19-of-57) in the game than MU, and netted 24 points off of 17 Monmouth turnovers.

Monmouth returns to action on Wednesday, February 9, when the Hawks host Fairleigh Dickinson University during Northeast Conference Rivalry Week in the MAC, at 7:45 p.m.