WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth University Men's Basketball set the program mark for the best start to a season at 10-2 Sunday, topping Colgate University (4-8) 77-66 behind 30 points from George Papas. It marked the eighth non-league win for MU, tied for the second most in school history, and the 10^th straight win at home for the Blue and White.
 
MU flew out of the locker room to a 7-0 run opening the second half, with Papas stealing a feed that led to a breakaway dunk before knocking home a three. Leading by five, MU ripped off a 16-4 stretch to lead by 17 at the 10:52 mark. The margin would not fall below double digits the rest of the way as MU won its third in a row.
 
Monmouth's defense ignited the Hawks to an early 8-0 run to make it 15-7, and after Colgate cut the lead back to three, Walker Miller and Papas both hit triples to make it 30-22. The Raiders got hot at the end of the half, hitting four threes in 2:23 including three from Tucker Richardson in a 1:31 span. A late dunk from Marcus McClary sent the game to the intermission tied at 36.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"I want to thank our fans for coming out, we needed our home crowd today. Walker and George really pulled us together, Walker got off to a hot start and then George really got going. If our defense does what it did later in the game, maybe we could have gotten away from those guys a little earlier." – Head Coach King Rice

"We're so happy to be home. Our offense scored 77, it was great. The ball was moving, everyone was being very unselfish. I love shooting at this place, I came back here for a reason and I'm so happy things are going the way they're going." – George Papas

"I made my first one on a right jump hook and I got rolling after that, I just wanted to be aggressive. Coach Rice has been telling me to get to my jump hook and get to the areas of the floor I can work best." – Walker Miller
 
-Monmouth is off to the best start in school history at 10-2.
-MU's eight non-league wins are tied with the 2015-16 and 1991-92 teams as the second most in school history.
-The Hawks have won 10 games in a row at home for the first time under King Rice and first time in the OceanFirst Bank Center.
-George Papas' 30 points is his fourth 30+ point game of his career and second this season.
-Monmouth is the first MAAC team this season to double-digit wins.
-Shavar Reynolds nine assists mark a career-high.
-Walker Miller posted his fifth game this season with eight or more rebounds.
-The Hawks have won three in a row and 10 of 11 overall.
-Monmouth beats Colgate for the first time since 1988.
-MU is 2-0 against the Patriot League this season.
-The Hawks were outrebounded for just the second time all season.
-Jakari Spence made his collegiate debut in the game.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-MU outshot Colgate 49% to 42%.
-The Hawks were better on the move, 19-6 in fast break points.
-Monmouth led for 37:14 of the contest.
-12 Hawks played in the game, the most this season.
-Richardson led Colgate with 14 points on five threes.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth wraps up non-league play on Wednesday night at home, hosting Hofstra at 7:00 p.m.