WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Backed by four players in double-figures, including a team-best 17 points and seven rebounds from senior
Mike Myers Keitt, the Monmouth University men's basketball team defeated Saint Francis University 68-50 in Northeast Conference action in the MAC, on Thursday night.
Monmouth, which led 24-23 at the break, outscored the Red Flash 44-27 in the second half, while going 15-for-17 from the foul line, to improve to 4-16 overall and 2-5 in the NEC.
Myers Keitt, who hit 6-of-11 from the floor, notched his eighth double-digit scoring game of the season, while junior
Dion Nesmith added a season-best 14 points, with five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Senior
Will Campbell, who hit three three-pointers, added 13 points off the bench, while
Jesse Steele registered 12 points and five assists for the Hawks.
"First off, I would just like to say nice things about Saint Francis," stated head coach
King Rice. "They really outplayed us when we went up there, and their coach does a wonderful job. I just think tonight our kids executed our plan a little bit better. I am really happy for our guys. Will stepped up. Dion stepped up. Mike stepped up. Our guys really played well on both ends of the floor, and I am so happy for them."
When asked about the Hawks' defensive effort, Nesmith added, "It's all about caring about each other. We don't want anyone getting beat to the basket, so we have to get over there and help one another."
After two straight baskets gave SFU a 6-4 lead, Myers Keitt's alley-oop dunk off a feed from Steele started a 7-2 spurt in 1:46 for the Hawks, as Monmouth grabbed an 11-8 cushion on
Ed Waite's free throw with 12:11 remaining.
Myers Keitt put the Blue and White in front 14-10 with his three-pointer from the corner, but the Red Flash knotted the contest at 14-14 with 9:39 showing following a pair of Anthony Ervin free throws. The Hawks reclaimed the lead behind five straight points from Campbell, 19-14, but SFU answered with the next five to tie the game at 19-19 with 6:30 on the clock.
The two sides traded baskets over the final 4:56 with Campbell's three-pointer being the difference as the Hawks held a 24-23 lead at the break.
The Hawks raced out of the locker room on a 9-2 run as Nesmith accounted for seven of the Monmouth points, as the Blue and White grabbed a 33-25 advantage with 18:27 left on Nesmith's three-pointer.
The Red Flash rallied within 33-31 at 16:44 behind consecutive three-pointers from Ollie Jackson.
Monmouth responded with a 13-2 spurt over 3:42 of game action to haul in a 46-33 lead with 12:26 showing, Steele and Campbell each connected from deep in the run.
SFU recorded the next six points to climb within 46-39 with 7:49 left, as Jon Taylor sank a pair of foul shots.
Back-to-back jumpers from Myers Keitt inflated the Monmouth edge back to 50-39 at 6:41, and the Hawks went in front 56-43 with 3:47 left after treys from Steele and Nesmith.
Four straight free throws each from Myers Keitt and
Austin Tillotson put the Blue and White ahead 64-47 with 56 seconds showing. Steele added a pair with 42.2 remaining to push the advantage to 66-47.
Rice added, "We are going to stick together. We are a family. We love each other and are going to keep working hard as a group. Together. Together, we are going to have more success this year."
The Red Flash, which hit just 4-of-18 of their attempts from beyond the arc, were paced by Scott Eatherton's 19 points and 14 rebounds, to lead three players in double-figures.
Monmouth, which is now 3-3 at home, returns to action on Saturday, January 21 when the Hawks host Robert Morris in Northeast Conference action in the MAC, at 7:00 p.m.
