Monmouth Hawks (16-11, 10-6 MAAC) at Rider Broncs (15-12, 9-8 MAAC)
Friday, February 27, 2020 - 9:00 p.m. EST
Alumni Gym, Lawrenceville, NJ

TV
ESPNU
Play-by-Play: Robert Lee
Analyst: Julianne Viani

RADIO
Shore Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Eddy Occhipinti
Analyst: Steve Bazaz

SCOUTING THE BRONCS
Rider currently has four 1,000 point scorers on the roster, including Dimencio Vaughn, Tyere Marshall, Frederick Scott and Stevie Jordan. After winning three of four, the Broncs have dropped two straight. 

RIDER HEAD COACH KEVIN BAGGETT
Kevin Baggett is in his eighth season leading the Broncs.  He is a two-time MAAC Coach of the Year and has 138 wins to his credit.

MONMOUTH ON THE ROAD
The Hawks lead the MAAC in road wins with six and road MAAC wins with four. MU has wins at Marist, Iona, Manhattan and Canisius and can close out road MAAC play at .500 with a win at Rider. 

RIDER AT HOME
The Broncs are 9-1 at home, with the lone setback coming to Iona on January 10, 69-66. Three of those nine wins came in non-league action.

MELIK MARTIN GETS HOT
Melik Martin is in the midst of the strongest three-game stretch of his career. He has posted three straight in double figures for the first time, and is shooting a whopping 12-of-15 (80%) from the field and 3-of-4 (75%) from three, making half of his threes on the season in the last three games. He also has 10 rebounds, five steals and a block, all while playing 23.3 minutes per game. Martin has added a 9-of-12 mark from the foul line during the streak as well. 

KING GETS TO 80
King Rice became the fifth active coach in the MAAC to hit 80 league wins with the victory over Quinnipiac on 2/23. He is 80-52 all-time in MAAC play since MU joined in 2013, with 15 more conference wins under his belt in the Northeast Conference his first two seasons at MU. He joins Tim Cluess (131), John Dunne (105), Kevin Baggett (89), and Steve Masiello (88) in the 80-win club.

ROAD WINS
MU is the MAAC leader in road wins with six, and four of those wins have come in MAAC action. With a win at Rider in the Hawks final road contest of the season, the Blue and White would finish .500 in road conference play. 

BEST FIRST HALF
Monmouth's first half against Quinnipiac on 2/23 netted 50 points, the most in an opening half by the Blue and White all season. It was the first time the Blue and White eclipsed 50 points in the first 20 minutes since last seasons MAAC quarterfinal win over the Bobcats in Albany. 

SEASON HIGH IN FGM
The Hawks made 32 field goals in the 2/23 victory over Quinnipiac, the most makes for the Hawks in a game this season. Similar to the opening half they had against the Bobcats, the 32 FGM is the most for MU since March 9, 2019, the MAAC Tournament quarterfinal against QU.

A 20-ASSIST CONTEST
Monmouth notched a 20+ assist game for the seventh time in the King Rice era against QU, while MU's 21 assists are tied for the third most in a game under Rice, and the most since dishing out 21 against Ole Miss on March 14, 2017 in the NIT.

100 FOR IBIEZUGBE
With an appearance in today's game, Sam Ibiezugbe will have played in 100 career games in the Blue and White. Two teammates, Louie Pillari and Mustapha Traore, have reached the milestone.

THE STEALS LEADER
Monmouth leads the MAAC in steals per game and total steals, averaging 7.9 per contest as a group. Only two teams in the conference have over 200 total steals, with MU leading Saint Peter's 213-201.

THE LEADER AND THREE IN THE TOP 10
George Papas leads the MAAC in free throw shooting at 88.7%, with only seven misses all season long. Two of his teammates join him in the top 10, with Ray Salnave and Deion Hammond both shooting north of 81% from the stripe. MU is the only team in the MAAC with three in the top 10. 

TOPPING LAST YEAR
Monmouth topped its win total from last season with its 15th victory over Marist. Another MAAC win would top  the Hawks conference output from a season ago, although there were just 18 league games a year ago as opposed to 20 this season.

CLOSING OUT IN THE HOME CONFINES
With four MAAC games remaining, Monmouth will have the benefit of playing three of them at home. With the 2020 MAAC Tournament being held in Atlantic City and with a road game at Rider remaining, MU is not scheduled to leave the state again.