BRIDGEPORT, CT – Monmouth fell in the regular season finale to Fairfield in the closing minutes, 69-66 at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, CT. Ray Salnave (Elmont, NY/Benjamin N. Cardozo) and Deion Hammond (Mitchellville, MD/Riverdale Baptist) each finished with 14 points for the Blue and White.

MU opened up a 10-point lead with an 8-0 run at the 8:51 mark of the second half, capped by Zac Tillman (Yeadon, PA/Shipley School) rolling to the rim and dunking one to make it 52-42. MU extended that lead to 11 when Louie Pillari (Tinton Falls, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) knocked in a pair of free throws at 5:46 before Fairfield mounted a comeback. Tyler Nelson scored five points quickly with a Ferron Flavors Jr. triple in between to trim the deficit to three at 4:07. MU regained the three-point lead twice, but Aidas Kavaliauskas gave the Stags a lead from the foul line with 1:17 to go. MU couldn't get back over the hump, ultimately falling by three.

After trailing in the middle portion of the opening half, the Hawks locked down on the defensive end and were able to hold Fairfield without a field goal for the final 9:01 of the half. The Hawks finally drew even before Ray Salnave spun one through in transition, plus the foul at 2:01. MU extended the lead as wide as six down the stretch, culminating in a pair of Salnave free throws before getting a stop defensively headed to the break. Deion Hammond got things started early in the half for MU with a pair of threes and a three-point play before the Stags for a stretch of 9:43 in the first.

NOTES AND QUOTES
"We just have to get everybody back together and have a better night on Thursday night, that's all. We weren't really playing for seeding, we just wanted to get on a roll." – King Rice

"I think we got a little too complacent with the lead and Fairfield stayed positive about it all and they made plays." – Ray Salnave

-Deion Hammond scored in double digits for the 20^th time in 30 games in his freshman season.
-Ray Salnave scored in doubles for the 12^th time, nine of which have come in MAAC play.
-Micah Seaborn went without a field goal for the first time this season.
-Monmouth falls at Fairfield for the first time since 2/7/14.
-MU closes out the regular season as the eighth seed in the MAAC.
-Every Hawk who played over three minutes scored in the game.
-Monmouth held Fairfield to 0-for-10 to close out the first half.
-MU did not allow Fairfield a made field goal for the final 9:01 of the first period.
-Monmouth has now lost six games by one possession or less.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth was narrowly outshot 39.6% to 39.3%.
-The Hawks were outrebounded 39-37.
-Tyler Nelson led all scorers with 23 for the Stags, while Jonathan Kasibabu netted 20 points.
-The Hawks limited the Stags to 21.4% from deep.
-Monmouth's bench outscored Fairfield 34-9.
-MU was outscored in the paint 30-26.
-MU finishes the regular season at 11-19 and 7-11 in MAAC play.
-Fairfield wraps up the regular season at 14-15 and 9-9 in the MAAC.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth continues its season at the MAAC Tournament beginning Thursday, March 1 as the #8 seed, and will play at 5:00 p.m. at the Times Union Center against an opponent yet to be determined.