HAWKS HOST CANISIUS SUNDAY IN FINAL SERIES OF 2020

2020-21 Monmouth Basketball Game 4 Preview

Monmouth Hawks (1-2, 1-1 MAAC) vs. Canisius Golden Griffins (1-1, 1-1 MAAC)
Sunday, December 27, 2020 - 2:00 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
Canisius earned a split in their season-opening series with Marist, winning the opener. Majesty Brandon leads the Griffs at 18.5 points per game, while Malek Green is averaging a double-double with 14.5 points and 10 rebounds.

CANISIUS HEAD COACH REGGIE WITHERSPOON
Canisius Head Coach Reggie Witherspoon is in his fifth season with the Griffs, and has 67 wins to his credit with Canisius and 265 overall in his 19-year coaching career.

MONMOUTH AT HOME
Though there will be no fans in the stands, Monmouth has had success at the OceanFirst Bank Center, finishing last season 11-2. MU is 1-2 at home in 2020.

CANISIUS ON THE ROAD
This will mark the first time Canisius hits the road this season, having played just two games to this point, both at the Koessler Athletic Center in Buffalo.

SERIES NOTES
-Since becoming MAAC foes, Monmouth holds a 10-6 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 5-2 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.

HAMMOND AND PAPAS LEAD THE CHARGE
Monmouth senior guards Deion Hammond and George Papas came out of the gates in the first week ready to roll, with each scoring 61 points and combining for 43 of Monmouth's 82 made field goals and 23 of the Hawks' 29 made three pointers. The duo combined for over 177 minutes played.

MYLES RUTH IMPRESSES
After becoming the first true freshman in seven years to start the season opener, Myles Ruth showed why, showcasing his defense late in games throughout the first week. He notched a pair of steals in every game, and totaled 10 points and eight rebounds in the two games with Saint Peter's, including a key late three-point play.

COUNTING DOWN TO RECORDS FOR HAMMOND
Deion Hammond enters this game with 239 made triples in three-plus seasons, already good for third on the all-time list. He is 18 shy of Justin Robinson's 257, and 21 short of Dave Calloway's program record of 260. Hammond has made over 70 three pointers in each of his first three seasons in the Blue and White. He is also on track to shatter the three point attempts record, where he has 660, and sits seven behind Dejan Delic for the program high of 667. Finally, Hammond is eight points shy of Fernando Sanders for ninth on the all-time scoring list. Hammond enters the game with 1,338 career points.

SPREAD THE WEALTH
Monmouth played 13 players throughout the week against Hofstra and Saint Peter's, with 12 of them registering a field goal and a rebound at some point in the week.

TOATLEY'S START
Donovann Toatley made his Monmouth debut in the first SPU game, and scored in double figures in both games against the Peacocks, netting 10 points and hitting a pair of three pointers in the first game before adding 13 with another two triples in the second. It marked his first games in 651 days since he played in the SoCon Tournament at Chattanooga.

KING GETS 150
Head Coach King Rice became the fourth coach in Monmouth history to win 150 games on 12/18 against Saint Peter's, with all of them coming at the helm of the Hawks. Rice's first win came on 12/6/11 at Navy, with win #50 coming over Siena on 3/1/15. His 100th win took place at Manhattan, when a late Micah Seaborn triple propelled his Hawks over the Jaspers on 2/10/17. Rice joins three other MU coaches at the 150 win mark (Bill Boylan, Wayne Szoke, Dave Calloway), and just two that have done it at the Division I level (Szoke, Calloway). There are currently 173 active DI head coaches with 150+ wins, with Rice vying to join that group. Of those 173, only 34 of them have won 150+ games at only one school. Rice is the only coach currently in the MAAC to post 150 wins at their current institution.

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Players Mentioned

#10 Micah Seaborn: G; 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior

#3 Deion Hammond: G; 6' 5"; Senior

#5 George Papas: G; 6' 5"; Senior

#4 Donovann Toatley: G; 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore

#24 Myles Ruth: G; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#10 Micah Seaborn
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior
: G

#3 Deion Hammond
: 6' 5"; Senior
: G

#5 George Papas
: 6' 5"; Senior
: G

#4 Donovann Toatley
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore
: G

#24 Myles Ruth
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: G