WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – In a basketball history that dates back to 1956, Monmouth University Men's Basketball (5-4, 5-3 MAAC) reached a major milestone on Sunday, winning the 1,000^th game in the history of Hawk Basketball over Marist College (6-4, 4-4 MAAC), 72-62. The Blue and White reached the mark behind 21 points from Deion Hammond (Mitchellville, MD/Riverdale Baptist School), who moved into seventh on the school's all-time scoring list.

Hammond netted six in a row to balloon the Monmouth lead to 19 in the early stages of the second half, and the MU double-digit lead held until the 8:09 mark when Marist scored six straight to get within eight. Monmouth took over from that point forward, eventually posting a 13-2 run to lead by 20, capped by a wide-open wing triple from Melik Martin (York, PA/York Catholic) at the 3:00 mark.

Monmouth never trailed in the opening half, and used a 14-5 run that included triples from three different Hawks to lead by 10, 21-11. Marist stayed in it, mainly from the foul line, by scoring 10 of 13 to trim it back to three at 6:08 before MU locked down for the remainder of the period. The Hawks closed the period on a 15-3 run, with six of those coming on Donovann Toatley (Largo, MD/Riverdale Baptist School/Chattanooga) three balls to take a 15-point lead to the break. MU limited Marist to 25% shooting and 0-14 from three-point range in the opening 20 minutes.

NOTES AND QUOTES

"You have to reflect on all the people that played a role in Monmouth getting to this historic win. There are so many great players over the years, it is an honor for me to be the coach here. It is an honor that I get to represent all the great people that played a part in Monmouth basketball over the years." – King Rice on the historic 1,000^th win

"I explain to my kids here that Monmouth has the same type of brotherhood that we have at North Carolina. When I meet former guys, you see how proud they are that they played a part in being on this campus and helping build this thing." – King Rice

"It means a lot to be a part of this. I'm glad our team was the one to get the 1,000^th win but you have to give credit to all the guys that came before us that put numbers on that. I'm glad we can contribute to the win column." – Deion Hammond

-Monmouth won the 1,000^th game in the history of the program, dating back to 1956.
-MU's first ever win came on December 1, 1956 against Jersey City State, 51-47.
-Monmouth has had six different head coaches win games in the course of winning 1,000.
-Monmouth did not trail all weekend long.
-The Hawks swept its second MAAC weekend in four tries this year.
-Monmouth became the first MAAC team to five wins this season.
-Deion Hammond scored 20+ points, finishing with 21, for the 20^th time in his career.
-Hammond's nine rebounds marked a career best.
-Melik Martin scored in doubles for the 13^th time in his career.
-Martin's 16 points is one shy of his career best and ties his season high, set on opening night.
-Myles Ruth dished out a career-best five assists.
-Donovann Toatley posted his fourth double-digit effort as a Hawk. He also tied a career best with three made triples.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth outshot Marist 43.1% to 35.7%.
-The Hawks limited Marist to 3-27 from three, including 0-14 in the opening half.
-The Blue and White outrebounded Marist 37-34.
-The Red Foxes were led by Hakim Byrd's 11 points, pacing three in double figures.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth hosts Quinnipiac next weekend, beginning on Friday, January 15 at 5:00 p.m. on ESPN+.