SCOUTING THE GAELS
EJ Crawford leads four Gaels in double figures at 17.3 points per game, while senior Rickey McGill is averaging over five assists per contest. Iona has won two in a row and four of five since beginning conference play.

SERIES NOTES
-MU and Iona have played 15 times overall, and 13 times since the teams have both competed in the MAAC.
-MU has won three of five with the Gaels.
-The road team won each matchup a season ago. -Monmouth and Iona met in consecutive MAAC Tour- naments, playing in the 2015 semifinals and 2016 title game.

RUTHERFORD'S STAT LINE
Nick Rutherford posted an all-around contest in the win over Fairfield, scoring five points while adding eight rebounds, six assists, four steals and a block. He contributed on the defensive end as well and hit his fourth three of the season on a stepback from the corner.

WINNING STREAK
Monmouth has won three in a row for the first time this season, and for the first time since the end of the 2016-17 season when the Hawks topped a program high with a 17 game winning streak.

LOCKING DOWN AT HOME
Monmouth is giving up 51 points per game at home against MAAC opponents this season, holding both Saint Peter's and Manhattan under 50 points. Against the Jaspers, MU allowed just two two-point field goals in the opening half. Nobody has topped 60 points on the Hawks at home this season in league play, and MU has given up 60 or less in four straight games when factoring in a road win at Siena.

BLOCK PARTY
Monmouth set a season high in blocks with six, including five in the opening half against Fairfield. Diago Quinn and Nikkei Rutty added two apiece.

MOVING OVER .500 IN THE MAAC
Monmouth is over .500 in conference play for the first time since the 2016-17 season finale at Iona, a Hawks win that moved MU to 18-2 in league play. MU is currently 4-2 after three straight wins.