WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth University fell in its final non-conference game of the season, 59-52 to visiting Wagner on Monday afternoon in the MAC. Despite junior Deon Jones' (Wilmington, Del./Sanford School/Towson) team-high 15 points and eight rebounds, the Hawks fall to 6-7 overall.
Monmouth, which shot a season-low 29.0% (18-62) from the field and connected on 3-of-16 from beyond the arc, hit 13-of-21 free throw attempts, in snapping its three-game win streak.
Monmouth grabbed a 9-5 lead following a three-pointer from Andrew Nicholas (Wrightsville, Pa./Eastern York) and Chris Brady's (Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborfields) post and short hook with 16:15 showing, before consecutive three-pointers from Marcus Burton and Kenneth Ortiz pushed the Seahawks in front 13-10 with 12:20 left in the half. Jones knotted the game at 15-15 with a pair of free throws, while his drive with 7:05 showing tied the contest again at 17-17.
Jones tied the game for the fifth time with 5:29 remaining with a wing three-pointer, making the score 20-20, while a foul shot from Nicholas gave the Hawks a 21-20 edge with 5:13 left.
Wagner built a 24-21 lead behind a Burton drive and two Ortiz free throws with 2:40 showing, before a short jumper from Josh James (White Plains, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) pulled the Hawks within 24-23 with 1:48 on the clock. The Seahawks took a 26-23 lead into the break behind Ortiz's drive.
After falling behind by as many as seven, 36-29 with 15:07 left in the game, Monmouth climbed all the way within 41-40 with 10:50 showing, following drives from Justin Robinson (Lake Katrine, N.Y./Kingston) and Jones.
The Seahawks answered with an 8-0 run over 3:21 of action to haul in a 49-40 advantage with 7:05 left, and built their lead to 11 twice, including 57-46 with 53 seconds remaining.
Robinson added seven points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists for the Hawks, while Tyrone O'Garro (Newark, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep) grabbed seven boards.
Three Seahawks scored in double-figures, led by Ortiz's game-high 20 points, while Burton added 14, and Mario Moody notched a double-double with 12 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks. Wagner, which registered 15 blocked shots, got 10 blocks and eight rebounds from Naofall Folahan.
Monmouth returns to action on Thursday, January 2 when the Hawks return to MAAC league play and hosts Siena College in the MAC, at 7:00 p.m.
@MonmouthBBall -- #FlyHawks
