-Monmouth and Towson have met two times previously
-The teams have met just one time as Division I opponents
-MU and Towson first met on February 7, 1983 at Towson
-The Tigers won the 1983 matchup 76-59
-In 2014, Towson topped Monmouth in West Long Branch 79-75 in overtime as part of the CBE Hall of Fame ClassicÂ
-Andrew Nicholas hit a career high six triples against the Tigers, leading MU with 24 points
-Monmouth is 17-20 against current C-USA members
-The Hawks have only played six of the 10 current CAA members
-MU has wins over current CAA members Hofstra, Drexel, Northeastern and Delaware
-
King Rice is 4-5 all-time against CAA members
-This is Monmouth's first ever trip to SECU Arena
MILLER BREAKS OUT IN GAME ONE
Playing significant minutes for the first time,
Walker Miller broke out in his first game as a Hawk Tuesday at Charlotte. The former North Carolina walk-on posted career bests in points (23), field goals made (9), rebounds (7) and blocks (3) to lead the Hawks on opening night. The 23 points is the most by a Hawk in their MU debut under
King Rice. Miller started and played 35:50 of the 40 minutes at center in his home state of North Carolina.
REYNOLDS SHOWS OUTÂ Also in his first game as a Hawk, Shavar Reynolds topped his career high with 18 points, one more than his top output in four seasons at Seton Hall when he netted 17 at Oregon on December 4, 2020. He made six field goals and was a perfect 5-5 at the foul line, while also tying his career-best mark with seven rebounds. He led MU with four assists, playing 34:55 of the 40 minutes.
SHORTENED ROTATION
A coach that uses a deep bench,
King Rice played just eight players in the season opener at Charlotte. That marks the least since just eight Hawks saw time on December 8, 2018 at Albany. Current Hawks
Nikkei Rutty and
Marcus McClary started that game for MU.
PAPAS HITTING THE BOARDS
George Papas led Monmouth in rebounding, grabbing 10 boards at Charlotte in the opener. It's the first time Papas has led the Hawks in rebounding since his five topped the box score on January 12, 2020 at Quinnipiac. 10 rebounds is Papas' career best, and he is the first MU guard to grab 10+ rebounds since
Marcus McClary had 11 at Rider on March 4, 2021.Â
STARTING OFF HOT FROM THE FOUL LINEMonmouth shot 93.3% from the foul line in the season opener at Charlotte, going 14-15 and missing just once in the first half before a perfect 10-10 showing in the final 20 minutes.Â
STIFLING DEFENSE
MU got back into the game on Tuesday night thanks to their defense, which held Charlotte overall to 38.2% and 22.2% from downtown, including 20% from deep in the second half. The 49ers were just 6-27 from three, and accumulated 20 points at the free throw line.
MYLES AND MYLES
The only two Hawks that saw action in the opener that aren't seniors are sophomores
Myles Ruth and
Myles Foster, who combined for nine points and six rebounds on 3-6 shooting. The pair combined to play just under 29 minutes.
WHAT RETURNS
Monmouth brings back 10 players from last season's MAAC regular season title team, including a pair of players that opted to remain at MU for their fifth season after the NCAA granted eligibility due to COVID-19. The Blue and White are 15 total points shy of returning 50% of its scoring from a season ago, with the two fifth-year players in
George Papas and
Marcus McClary coming back as the top two returning scorers.Â
WHAT COMES INThe Hawks have seven new faces on the roster to begin the 2021-22 season, with four freshman coming in as well as a trio of transfers. Impact graduate transfers
Shavar Reynolds Jr. (Seton Hall) and
Walker Miller (North Carolina) will make an immediate impact, while MU also welcomes walk-on guard
Jakari Spence from Robert Morris.
King Rice also brings in a strong freshman class of four players, including guards
Tahron Allen,
Jayden Doyle, and
Sam Fagan and center
Tadhg Crowley.
PRESEASON ALL-MAACTwo Hawks were named to Preseason All-MAAC teams, with top returning scorer
George Papas earning First Team and transfer
Shavar Reynolds Jr. earning Third Team. Papas, a second-teamer a season ago, becomes the fourth Hawk to ever earn Preseason All-MAAC First Team, joining Justin Robinson, Micah Seaborn and
Deion Hammond. Reynolds was named to a preseason team despite not suiting up for the Hawks yet after an impressive season a year ago with Big East member Seton Hall.Â
GRAD TRANSFERSKing Rice has welcomed a pair of graduate transfers in the same season for the first time in his tenure at Monmouth. Rice has had two previous grad transfers in his 10 prior seasons. Reserve guard Trevon Gross Jr. was a Hawk in 2018-19 after playing at Virginia, while impactful big man Brice Kofane joined the Hawks in 2014-15 following his time at Providence. Kofane averaged 6.4 points per game and led the Blue and White in rebounding (5.8 per game) and blocks (55).
RICE SIGNS EXTENSION
This past August, Monmouth Head Coach
King Rice inked a five-year contract extension to keep him on the Monmouth sidelines through the 2025-26 season. Rice comes off his third MAAC regular season title and third MAAC Coach of the Year honor.
LAST TIME OUTMonmouth fell to Charlotte 68-66 in a game MU trailed by as many as 15 in the second half before having the ball on the final possession with a chance to tie or win.
WHAT'S TO COME
The Hawks open the home schedule on Tuesday with a matchup against Lehigh.Â
