Monmouth Hawks (7-6, 1-1 MAAC) vs. Canisius Golden Griffins (5-9, 0-3 MAAC)
Friday, January 10, 2020 - 7:00 p.m. EST
OceanFirst Bank Center, West Long Branch, NJ

TV
ESPN3/Watch ESPN
Play-by-Play: Eddy Occhipinti
Analyst: Steve Bazaz

SCOUTING THE GRIFFS
The Griffs have dropped seven of eight, but are led by a trio in double figures including newcomer Majesty Brandon and returners Malik Johnson and Scott Hitchon. 

CANISIUS HEAD COACH REGGIE WITHERSPOON
Reggie Witherspoon is in his third season leading Canisius, finishing as 2017-18's co-regular season champion. Witherspoon was previously the head coach at Buffalo. 

MONMOUTH AT HOME
The Hawks have yet to lose in West Long Branch this year, posting a 4-0 mark in the OceanFirst Bank Center to this point.

CANISIUS ON THE ROAD
Canisius is 1-6 in true road games to this point, including an 0-1 mark in MAAC play with a loss at Siena. The lone win came in November at UIC, 94-64.

SERIES NOTES
-Since becoming MAAC foes, Monmouth holds a 8-6 advantage.
-MU snapped a four-game losing streak in the series with a win in the 2019 MAAC Semifinals.
-The teams never met prior to being league rivals in 2013.
-MU holds a 4-2 advantage in games held in West Long Branch.
-Monmouth and Canisius have met twice in MAAC Tournaments, with MU winning in the 2014 quarterfinals and the 2019 semifinals.

MCCLARY ON THE BOARDS
Marcus McClary has tied his career high in rebounding in three straight games, grabbing five boards in each contest from the guard position. McClary now has six such games with five caroms.

WIN ONE OF THE FIRST TWO
Monmouth has now opened MAAC play at 2-0 or 1-1 in six of the eight years since joining the conference in 2013. MU has gone to the finals twice since becoming MAAC members, and started 1-1 both times in conference play.  

HAMMOND ATOP THE LEAGUE
Deion Hammond is tied atop the MAAC with 37 made field goals with Fairfield guard Landon Taliaferro. He also leads the conference in free throw shooting percentage at 86.7%, and is the fourth-leading scorer in the league. Hammond is less than a point per game behind Iona's EJ Crawford in second place and Siena's Jalen Pickett in third. Rich Kelly is at 17.6 ppt to lead the league.

MOST NON-CONFERENCE WINS IN THE LEAGUE
Monmouth was tied during non-conference play with Rider for the most non-league victories among MAAC schools this season. Each team won six games in the early part of the schedule.