WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Justin Robinson (Lake Katrine, N.Y./Kingston) scored all of his team-high 20 points in the second half, while Deon Jones (Wilmington, Del./Sanford School) added 18 points to lead Monmouth to a come-from-behind 69-65 victory over Marist in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men's basketball action on Monday night in the MAC. The Hawks, who have won three straight, improve to 15-12 overall and 11-5 in the league.
Brice Kofane (Yaounde, Cameroon/Miller School/Providence), who chipped in six points and three blocked shots, tied a career-high with 12 rebounds, while Collin Stewart (Glenville, N.Y./Mekeel Christian Academy), who has hit 12 of his last 15 field goals, added nine points. Austin Tilghman (Wilmington, Del./Archbishop Carroll) tallied seven points, five rebounds and a career-best seven assists for the Hawks, who rallied from a 10-point first half deficit for the home win. Robinson also connected on a career-high five three-pointers.
Monmouth, which tied a season-high with 10 made three-pointers (10-17), which included 6-of-10 in the Hawks' 45-point second half, hit 50.0% from the field overall (26-52) and held a 30-20 edge in points in the paint.
“The second half offensively that these guys put together was incredible and fun to watch,” stated head coach King Rice. “I thought Brice Kofane had some of the most amazing defensive plays to save baskets and give a chance to win. Tonight was a total team effort and our team is starting to be able to be tough enough to win close games down the stretch.”
Jones, who scored Monmouth's first five, tied the game at 5-5 with his three-pointer at 16:10, but Marist answered with an 11-4 run to take a 16-9 advantage with 10:42 showing.
Stewart's three-pointer pulled the Hawks within a pair, 16-14 with 9:30 left, while Tilghman's trifecta and a Jones lay-in gave MU a 21-20 lead at 6:24. The Red Foxes responded with a 7-0 run and ended the half on a 10-3 streak to hold a 30-24 lead at the break.
Chavaughn Lewis scored six straight points for the Red Foxes to give Marist a 36-26 advantage with 17:21 left in the game, and Marist led 54-46 with 7:23 remaining.
Monmouth answered with a 17-4 run, which was started by a three-pointer from Max DiLeo (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson), and highlighted by two trifectas from Robinson to give the Hawks a 63-58 lead with 2:09 showing.
After Khalid Hart's three-pointer got Marist within 63-61 with 1:54 on the clock, four straight points from Jones established a 67-61 advantage for the Hawks with 17.9 left, while Kofane's offensive rebound and putback put the Blue & White in front 69-63 with 10 seconds remaining.
Monmouth, which tied a season-high with 40 rebounds, won the battle of the boards 40-26, limiting Marist to eight offensive caroms.
Hart finished with a game-high 21 points, which included five three-pointers, while Lewis chipped in 15 points for Marist, which falls to 5-21 overall, and 4-12 in the MAAC.
Monmouth returns to action on Thursday, February 19 when the Hawks travel to the Yanitelli Center in Jersey City to face hOURglass rival Saint Peter's in MAAC action at 7:00 p.m., on ESPN3.
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