LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – Trailing by 15 points at the half, the Monmouth University men's basketball team rallied to tie the game twice in the second stanza, which included runs of 11-0 and 16-3, but fell at Rider University in non-conference action 65-62, on Saturday afternoon in Alumni Gymnasium. The Hawks, who misfired on go-ahead and game-tying three pointers in the closing moments, fall to 1-2 overall.
Monmouth, which forced 16 second half turnovers, connected on 43.2% in the last half, including four three-pointers, while
Dion Nesmith (15 points, four assists, three steals),
Stephen Spinella (13 points) and
Jesse Steele (10 points) all scored in double-figures for the Blue and White.
"I am disappointed tonight. I thought my team fought hard in the second half, but the first half we did not show up and play Monmouth Basketball and that will cost you every single time" stated head coach
King Rice. "I am very encouraged by the second half, but I need to do a better job of getting them ready for 40 minutes, instead of 20."
Monmouth, which opened 3-of-14 from the floor, including 0-for-11 in jump shots, fell behind 12-8 on Jonathon Thompson's corner three-pointer with 11:30 left in the half. Rider, which hit five straight treys, pushed the lead to 24-14 with 9:15 showing, while the Broncs' sixth three-pointer gave them a 29-17 lead at 6:24.
The Hawks, who fell behind by 14, 32-18 on Dera Nd-Ezuma's three-point play, connected on its first jump shot of the contest when
Gary Cox drilled a foul line jumper, while Spinella's two free throws made the game 32-22 with 3:50 showing.
Behind Tommy Pereira's second trifecta of the half, with 20 ticks remaining, the Broncs hauled in a 37-22 lead at the break, as the Hawks connected on just 7-of-31 from the field, including 0-for-11 from beyond the arc.
Monmouth, which forced seven Rider turnovers in the opening four minutes of the stanza, opened the half on an 11-0 spurt, cutting the deficit to 37-33, as Nesmith connected on seven of the Hawks' points, including a corner three-pointer.
Rider halted the run on Zedric Sadler's break away off an MU turnover, which ignited a 9-0 streak for Rider, giving the Broncs a 46-33 advantage, before Spinella's trey at the 12:00 mark made the tally 46-36.
The Hawks rattled off a 12-3 run, in which the Broncs hit just a trio of foul shots, capped by a pair of
Marcus Ware baskets, to climb within 52-48 with 8:24 showing.
Monmouth inflated its run to 16-3 behind Spinella's dunk and two Ware foul shots to tie the game at 52-52 with 7:23 left, but Rider responded with a 10-4 spurt to reclaim a 62-56 edge with 4:09 remaining.
Drives from
Andrew Nicholas and Spinella allowed the Hawks to claw within 62-60 with 2:11 showing, while Ware's offensive board and short jumper knotted the contest at 62-62 with 1:12 left.
Following a pair of Nurideen Lindsey free throws, Steele's go-ahead three-point attempt was blocked, while Nicholas' game-tying trey went long as time expired.
The Hawks, who hit just 4-of-23 from three-point range, were outrebounded 46-38, and went 12-of-16 from the stripe, compared to Rider's 17-of-26 from the line, and eight trifectas.
Ware added eight points, seven boards and three steals for the Blue and White, while
Ed Waite chipped in six points and seven rebounds, and Nicholas notched eight points and six caroms.
Monmouth returns to action on Monday, November 19 when the Hawks travel to Atlanta, Georgia to compete in the Sub-Host Round of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. In the three-day stretch, the Hawks face host Georgia State (Monday/7:00 p.m.), South Alabama (Tuesday/4:00 p.m.) and Tennessee State (Wednesday/Noon), with all games at the GSU Sports Arena.
