ALBANY, NY – Ray Salnave (Elmont, NY/Benjamin N. Cardozo) topped a career-high for the second consecutive game, netting 25 points at Albany Saturday night as MU fell to the Great Danes, 82-63.

Albany grabbed a seven-point second-half lead, but Monmouth responded by trimming it to two on a Salnave drive with 8:35 to play. The Great Danes answered that with the next seven to regain a nine-point edge, which grew to 16 on consecutive Devonte Campbell triples. Albany held on down the stretch to cap the 82-63 win.

Monmouth used a 12-0 first-half run to extend its lead to 13, the largest of the period which was capped by a pair of Louie Pillari (Tinton Falls, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) foul shots after a steal in transition. Salnave scored eight in a row in the period, hitting a pair of triples in the opening frame and converting a three-point play. Albany scored the final five points of the half to cut the halftime margin to four, with Ahmad Clark netting 20 of Albany's 35 first-half points.

NOTES AND QUOTES
"Another tough night for us, I want to give all the credit to Albany and their coaching staff. I have a lot of respect for Will, I think he's one of the best coaches that you have to try to prepare for. They run incredible stuff." – Head Coach King Rice

"You just have to play basketball. We're just not a team right now that plays together for 40 minutes and we don't respond well when other teams hit us in the face." – King Rice

-Ray Salnave topped a career-high for the second game in a row with 25 points, his third career 20+ point game.
-Salnave made nine field goals, a career best.
-Mustapha Traore scored in double figures for the fourth time this season and sixth time in his career.
-Salnave played 39 of the 40 minutes, the only minute he has sat in the last two games.
-Monmouth started the same lineup for the second game in a row, with freshman big Nikkei Rutty making his second career start.
-The Hawks are now 3-2 all-time against Albany, reciprocating last season's game in West Long Branch.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth outrebounded Albany 40-27.
-MU outscored Albany in the paint 34-8.
-The Hawks were outshot by Albany for the game, 45.7% to 40%.
-MU led at the half 39-35.
-The Hawks outran Albany on the fast break 13-3.
-Each team led by double digits in the game.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth is off until December 20, when they return home to take on Yale at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN+.