HAMDEN, Conn. – Justin Robinson (Lake Katrine, N.Y./Kingston) nearly missed his first career double-double with 11 points and a career-high tying nine assists, to go along with five rebounds and three steals, to lead three Hawks in double-figures, but Monmouth fell at Quinnipiac 72-52 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action on Thursday night at the TD Bank Sports Center.
Monmouth, which moved to 12-12 overall and 8-5 in the MAAC, got a team-high 12 points from Deon Jones (Wilmington, Del./Sanford School) and 11 points from Austin Tilghman (Wilmington, Del./Archbishop Carroll), who posted double-figures for a second straight game behind 2-of-2 shooting from three-point range and 3-for-3 from the free throw line.
Monmouth head coach King Rice stated, “We were totally outplayed and outclassed by Quinnipiac today. Our group is feeling sorry for themselves right now and we have to get that turned around pretty quickily.”
The Hawks connected on 33.3% (20-of-60) from the field, including 3-of-14 from three-point range, but were outrebounded 50-32, as the Bobcats turned 16 offensive rebounds into 13 second chance points. The Bobcats (12-10, 6-7), who hit nine treys, went 26-of-66 (39.4%) from the floor.
After a Max DiLeo (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson) lay-up opened the scoring, Quinnipiac responded with an 11-0 run, which included three three-pointers, to take an 11-2 lead with 14:59 showing. Monmouth climbed within 11-7 on Collin Stewart's (Glenville, N.Y./Mekeel Christian Academy) three-point play with 13:06 remaining, but the Bobcats retaliated with a 14-3 streak to hold a 25-10 edge with 5:34 left in the half.
QU pushed its run to 21-9 to lead 32-16 with 1:36 on the clock, before a Stewart wing jumper and Jones' steal and subsequent three-point play got Monmouth within 13 at the break, 34-21.
Jones, who scored 10 straight for the Hawks, opened with the first seven out of the break for the Blue & White, as Monmouth trailed 37-28 with 15:28 remaining, while a quick 7-0 spurt, started by a Robinson triple and capped by Brice Kofane's (Yaounde, Cameroon/Miller School/Providence) putback, got Monmouth within eight, 45-37, with 11:11 left.
The Bobcats answered with a 14-5 spurt over 3:50 of action to haul in a 59-42 advantage with 7:02 on the board. The Hawks trimmed the deficit to 59-46 with 6:05 left following Tilghman's three-point play, but a 6-0 run from QU pushed the Bobcats in front 65-46 at 2:41.
Robinson, who had three assists on Monmouth's first three baskets of the game, tied his career-high of nine assists, originally set at St. Francis Brooklyn on December 10, 2013.
Monmouth, which dropped consecutive games for the first time since December, returns to action on Sunday, February 8 when the Hawks host Canisius in the MAC at 2:00 p.m. in MAAC action, which will be broadcast on ESPN3.
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