Monmouth Hawks (13-10, 7-5 MAAC) at Canisius Golden Griffins (9-15, 4-9 MAAC)
Friday, February 14, 2020 - 7:00 p.m. EST
Koessler Athletic Center, Buffalo, NY
TV
ESPN3/Watch ESPN
Play-by-Play: Jay Moran
Analyst: Richard Walsh
RADIO
Shore Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Eddy Occhipinti
Analyst: Steve Bazaz
SCOUTING THE GRIFFS
The Griffs are led by Malik Johnson and Majesty Brandon, both of whom score in double figures. Canisius has dropped five of six.
CANISIUS HEAD COACH REGGIE WITHERSPOON
Reggie Witherspoon is in his fourth season leading Canisius, finishing as 2017-18's co-regular season champion. Witherspoon was previously the head coach at Buffalo.
MONMOUTH ON THE ROAD
The Hawks are 4-8 away from home this season, and 2-4 in road MAAC games. MU has victories at Lehigh, Princeton, Manhattan and Iona.
CANISIUS AT HOME
Canisius is 6-3 at the Koessler Athletic Center this season, and 3-3 in MAAC games at home.
SERIES NOTES
-Since becoming MAAC foes, Monmouth holds a 9-6 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.
-MU is looking for its first win in Buffalo since 1/16/17.
HAMMOND NETS 30
Deion Hammond posted a career-best 30 points against Saint Peter's, becoming the first Hawk since Micah Seaborn on 2/22/18 against Rider to hit 30. Hammond posted the 49th game in Monmouth's DI history of 30 points, and the seventh of the King Rice era (Justin Robinson 3x, Andrew Nicholas 2x, Micah Seaborn 1x). Hammond also posted the 30th game of six made three pointers in program history, and the first since Seaborn's aforementioned game vs. Rider. Of the 30 games of six made threes or more in MU history, 17 have come under King Rice (Justin Robinson 5x, Andrew Nicholas 3x, Je'lon Hornbeak 3x, Dion Nesmith 2x, Micah Seaborn 2x, Mike Myers-Keitt 1x, Deion Hammond 1x).
HOSTING NORTH CAROLINA
Earlier this week, Monmouth and King Rice announced a three-year deal with national power North Carolina that includes a December 17, 2020 date in West Long Branch. Rice, a 1992 grad of UNC, will bring his team to Chapel Hill the next two seasons. Former Tar Heel JR Reid is also on staff.
PERFECT FROM THE LINE
Monmouth posted its first perfect night from the foul line this season at Fairfield, knocking down all eight attempts they took on the night.
HAWKS ON ESPNU
MU's February 28th matchup with rival Rider at Alumni Gym in Lawrenceville, NJ has been flexed to air on ESPNU at 9:00 p.m. While it will be Monmouth's first linear broadcast of the season, their final 29 regular season games and the MAAC Tournament will air on the ESPN Family of Networks.
SALNAVE REACHES 1K
With a corner three in the second half of a win over Rider, Ray Salnave became the 25th player at the Division I level and 44th overall in program history to reach the 1,000 point mark. He joins teammate Deion Hammond, who got there on January 10 at Quinnipiac, and the duo are the first pair of 1,000 point scorers at MU to get there in the same season since Justin Robinson and Deon Jones in 2015-16.
GET SOME, GEORGE
George Papas exploded off the bench against Rider for a career-high 21 points, including two threes in the decisive 8-1 run for Monmouth in the second half to propel them to victory. It was Papas' first career 20+ effort, knocking in a career best six field goals and tying a career-high with five triples. He was also 5-5 from the foul line, and leads MU in free throw shooting on the season.
