WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Senior guard George Papas (Jersey City, NJ/Union Catholic) tied the program record with nine threes and led all scorers with 32 points, but the Monmouth University Men's Basketball team (0-1) dropped the long-awaited opener to Hofstra University (3-2) on Tuesday, 94-88. Deion Hammond (Mitchellville, MD/Riverdale Baptist School) netted 24 points, while Melik Martin (York, PA/York Catholic) finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and five blocks.

Hofstra's lead was never more than six in the early stages of the second half, and Hammond's three at 14:31 tied things at 59. Hofstra maintained a slim lead of no more than two possessions, save for a brief seven-point edge, but MU cut it to four at 8:17 with a Hammond three-point play. Following a Martin dunk in transition, the visitors scored 12 of the next 15 points to lead by 12. MU did not stop chipping away, scoring seven in a row to make it a five-point game at 1:45, but the Pride held on from the foul line.

Hammond was on fire out of the gate, scoring 16 of the Hawks first 18 points to send MU to an 18-13 lead at 12:08. After the Pride answered with three triples and a three-shot foul, Papas got going, converting on long balls in back-to-back possessions to make it 31-29 Monmouth at 8:31. The Hofstra lead grew as large as six, but Papas would convert a buzzer-beating wing three to send the Hawks to the locker room down two, 49-47.

NOTES AND QUOTES

"Overall, I'm extremely happy how my kids came out here today after a long break and went out there and tried to compete to the best of their abilities. I thought our kids did a tremendous job." – Head Coach King Rice

"I remember a few years ago when George was missing and didn't shoot a great percentage and I told everybody he was one of the best shooters I've ever seen. Now he's confident, he's comfortable, he knows what I want from him, he's a senior, he's a great young man and I'm just happy for him to have success. I thought him and Deion were tremendous." – Rice on George Papas

"My first three years I felt like I wasn't playing my best ball and I've been working so hard this summer. This has all taken such a toll on every student-athlete but to see my work come out today, I can go to bed a little satisfied. I get shots up every day so when a shot goes in I just expect that to happen now. I work so hard and my teammates work so hard." – George Papas

-Papas tied the program record with nine three-pointers, tying Dave Calloway's record set at Pepperdine on 1/2/90.
-Papas tied his career-high with 32 points, set last season at Canisius.
-Monmouth made 15 three-pointers, the most by the Hawks since March 14, 2017 in the NIT against Ole Miss.
-Deion Hammond netted 24 points, his 15^th career 20+ point game.
-Hammond's five three put him 23 away from tying Calloway's program record of 260.
-Hammond tied a career-high with four steals, set last season vs. Iona.
-Melik Martin's eight rebounds tied his career-high, set twice, both vs. Canisius last season and in his first career game vs. Bucknell in 2017.
-Martin set a career-best with five steals.
-Martin's 16 points was one shy of a career-high, and his 11^th career game in double figures.
-Myles Ruth became the first MU true freshman to start on opening night since Justin Robinson and Zac Tillman started at Hofstra on 11/8/13.
-Four freshmen made the collegiate debuts, with Ruth joining Klemen Vuga, Jack Holmstrom and Myles Foster.
-Ruth and Vuga netted their first career points, with Vuga dunking on his first career touch and Ruth converting a three-point play.
-This marked the third time MU opened a season in December, and the first since 1994. It was the latest in the program's DI history the Hawks began a season.
-King Rice is now 6-4 on opening night at Monmouth.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-28 of Monmouth's 32 field goals, and 76 of 88 points, came from the senior class.
-MU shot 46.4% from the field compared to 54.9% for Hofstra.
-The Pride shot 32 free throws to MU's 13.
-The Hawks had 17 assists to 10 turnovers.
-Hofstra was led by 29 points from Jalen Ray and 28 from Tareq Coburn.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth will open MAAC play on Friday at 5:00 p.m. against Saint Peter's in West Long Branch. The game will air on ESPN3.