WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth University Men's Basketball (10-3) completed its non-conference schedule, falling to Hofstra University (8-5) despite a fierce second-half comeback that came up just short.
Walker Miller posted a career-best 26 points while
Marcus McClary notched his fourth career double-double.
Trailing by 18, Monmouth went on a 15-2 run to cut that to a four-point deficit with 5:18 remaining. In a five-point game,
Walker Miller leapt over a Hofstra defender for an and-one dunk that cut the game to three, and MU had a triple try on the next possession to tie the game that didn't fall. Miller's triple with under a minute left cut it back to a four-point affair, but the Pride made two free throws and sealed the game.
Shavar Reynolds made two threes in the first three minutes to stake MU to a six-point lead, but Hofstra gradually build the advantage to as many as 18 in the opening half before a pair of late
George Papas threes made it a 12-point contest at the break.
NOTES AND QUOTES
"I want to give Hofstra all the credit in the world. They came with a great plan, knocked us way back and made us look like we haven't looked all season. We got going a little bit with our defense but just not enough, we had a shot to tie it towards the end but it just wasn't our night." – Head Coach
King Rice
-Monmouth concludes non-conference play 8-3, tying the program mark for wins in a non-league schedule (1990-91, 1991-92, 2015-16).
-MU had a three-game winning streak snapped as well as a nine-game home win streak.
-This marked MU's first home loss in over a calendar year (December 20, 2020).
-MU and Hofstra's all-time series is now tied at six, with the teams separated by five total points in 12 all-time meetings.
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Walker Miller scored a career-best 26 points.
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Marcus McClary posted his fourth career double-double and first this season.
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Jarvis Vaughan made his season debut off the bench, grabbing two rebounds in seven minutes.
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-MU was just edged out by Hofstra, 41.7 to 41.2% in field goal shooting.
-Each team made 16 foul shots.
-MU was outrebounded for just the third time this season, and by only one rebound.
-Monmouth was better off the bench 11-10.
UP NEXT
-Monmouth hosts Marist on New Year's Eve, with tip set for 1:00 p.m.
