WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth University built a 15-point second half lead, but Robert Morris rallied to claim a late lead to force an extra session, and scored the first eight points of the extra frame, en route to an 81-73 overtime victory in the MAC on Saturday night. Monmouth, 4-17 overall and 2-6 in the Northeast Conference, which led 53-38 with 12:19 remaining, was paced by junior Dion Nesmith's career-high 22 points.

After Monmouth reclaimed a 65-63 lead on Phill Wait's drive, Velton Jones connected on his career-high sixth three-pointer, to put the Colonials ahead 66-65 with 2:52 left.

With 1:30 remaining, the Hawks missed on a go-ahead three-pointer, and RMU claimed a 67-65 edge on Jones' free throw at 1:11. MU tied the game on Andrew Nicholas' drive in the lane with 58.8 showing, and after a defensive stop, Monmouth had possession with 36.0 remaining, but Jesse Steele's game-winner fell short as time expired, forcing the extra time.

“Tonight is a tough loss,” stated head coach King Rice. “I take my hat off to Robert Morris. They really battled back to get the win. I am proud of my kids, because they really played well enough to win tonight. I'm just down that I couldn't get Jesse a better shot at the end of regulation.”

Nesmith, who hit his first eight field goal attempts, went 8-for-9 from the floor, including 6-for-7 from three-point range, while notching his second straight career-best game for the Hawks.  Steele added 15 points and six assists, while Phill Wait, who hit 6-of-7 field goals, added 12 points.

The Hawks, who hit 65.2% from the field in the second half, including their first five three-pointers, connected on 44.6% for the game, while RMU hit 43.4% overall. The Colonials connected on 23-of-34 from the free throw line, including 9-for-12 in the OT session, while the Hawks went 6-for-14 from the stripe.

Velton Jones, who also hit six three-pointers, hit for a game-high 35 points, with six assists, while Anthony Myers added 16 points, behind 4-for-4 from beyond the arc. 

Monmouth held a 4-2 edge following drives from Steele and Austin Tillotson, but the Colonials answered with six straight points from Jones, who notched the first eight points for RMU, to grab an 8-4 lead with 16:51 left.

Nesmith's corner trey halted the RMU spurt, while a Nicholas jumper in the lane made the score 11-9 at 15:20. The Colonials answered with the next five points, including Jones' transition trey, to take a 16-9 advantage with 11:55 remaining.

The Hawks responded with a 6-0 run in 1:06, which included dunks from Wait off a lob from Steele, and Mike Myers Keitt's steal and dunk, to climb within 16-15 at 10:30. The Colonials answered with a 6-0 run of their own go back ahead 22-15 with 8:15 showing.

Nesmith put together an 8-3 run for the Hawks, as the guard drained a pair of three-pointers, to pull Monmouth within 25-23 with 5:30 on the clock.

After the two sides exchanged free throws, Jones drilled his third trifecta and a pair of foul shots from Coron Williams, gave RMU a 31-25 advantage with 2:03 left.

Behind two Steele free throws and a Wait hoop, the Hawks climbed within 33-29 at the break.

Monmouth blazed out the locker room, hitting 7-of-8 from the field, including 5-for-5 from three-point range, to take a 48-34 lead in the contest. The Hawks, who opened the half on a 19-1 run, held the Colonials without a field goal until Lucky Jones' jumper at 14:18, which made the tally 48-36.

Nesmith's sixth three-pointer pushed the Hawks to 9-of-10 from the floor, including 6-for-6 from beyond the arc, as the Hawks took a 53-38 lead with 12:19 showing.

Behind five straight three-pointers, including three by Anthony Myers, RMU trimmed the deficit to 59-55 at 7:14, and the Colonials knotted the game at 61-61 with 5:05 left following a 23-8 run after Monmouth took a 15-point lead.

The Colonials scored the first eight points of the overtime to go in front 75-67 with 2:47 left, before Ed Waite's offensive rebound and putback made the score 75-69 at 2:24.

RMU (15-6, 6-2 NEC) answered with four free throws to push the advantage to 79-69, while Steele's jumper pulled the Hawks within 79-71 with 27.2 second remaining.

Monmouth returns to action on Thursday, January 26 when the Hawks travel to New Britain, Connecticut to face CCSU at 7:00 p.m.