RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Deon Jones (Wilmington, Del./Sanford School) and Justin Robinson (Lake Katrine, N.Y./Kingston) combined for 32 points, six rebounds and six assists, but Monmouth, which had won five straight road games, fell at Manhattan College on Sunday afternoon, 71-64, in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action in Draddy Gymnasium.
Jones, who scored 16 of his team-high 18 points in the first half, went 5-for-7 from the floor (hit first five) and 8-for-8 from the free throw line, while Robinson, who scored in double-figures for the 14th time this season, registered 14 points and five assists for the Hawks, who move to 11-10 overall and 7-3 in the MAAC.
Once trailing by nine in the first half, Monmouth took a 49-47 lead at the 13:42 mark of the second stanza on a Robinson trifecta, while the sophomore's floater in the lane at 6:37, pushed the Hawks in front 56-54. After Monmouth took its second advantage of the final period, the Jaspers responded with a 9-2 run to go ahead 64-35 on an Ashton Pankey three-point play, and inflated the run to 14-5 to take a 68-61 lead with 1:15 remaining, as RaShawn Coles connected on a three-pointer.
Monmouth trimmed the deficit to 68-64 with 1:00 left on Max DiLeo's (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson) fast break lay-up, but three free throws in the final 15 seconds sealed the win for Manhattan (9-10, 6-4 MAAC).
The Jaspers opened up a 16-7 advantage following Zane Waterman's three-pointer at 12:33, before Collin Stewart's (Glenville, N.Y./Mekeel Christian Academy) three got Monmouth within 16-12 three minutes later. Manhattan pushed its lead to 26-18 with 6:55 showing, but behind nine straight points from Jones, the Hawks climbed within one, 26-25, with 5:15 on the board.
Manhattan built its lead to 32-26 on a Rich Williams' trey at 3:34, but Robinson's three-pointer and floater in the lane, allowed MU to get within 32-31 with 1:56 showing. After a Chris Brady (Greenlawn, N.Y./Harborfields) slam made the score 35-33 at 1:06, Pankey notched the final five points of the stanza to give Manhattan a 40-33 lead at the intermission.
Monmouth connected 42.9% (21-49) overall from the floor and 18-of-25 from the free throw line, as Brice Kofane (Yaounde, Cameroon/Miller School/Providence) added eight points and three rebounds, and Brady recorded seven points and seven rebounds.
Monmouth, which finished a stretch of four games in eight days, returns to action on Friday, January 30 when the Hawks travel to Webster Bank Arena to face Fairfield University on ESPNU at 8:00 p.m. in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play.
@MonmouthBBall -- #FlyHawks
