NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Monmouth University Men's Basketball (10-7, 10-6 MAAC) got a career-high 11 points from freshman Myles Foster (Brooklyn, NY/Brooks School) but fell Saturday night at Iona College (8-5, 6-3 MAAC) 88-65.

MU got eight second-half points from Foster but it wasn't enough, as the home team used a 14-2 run to extend the lead, one that would hold to give the Gaels the victory.

Monmouth led in the early stages, with Deion Hammond (Mitchellville, MD/Riverdale Baptist School) and George Papas (Jersey City, NJ/Union Catholic) knocking in threes. After Iona netted six of eight points at the foul line, Gob Gabriel (Manchester, NJ/Bradford Christian Academy) finished through contact for an and-one chance, and then drained a three to tie the game. Hammond nailed a triple at 7:54 to knot things at 21, but with MU trailing by one with just under six minutes remaining, Iona used a 15-5 run to take a 44-33 edge to the break.

NOTES AND QUOTES

"I want to give Iona all the credit, they obviously put together back-to-back games and it doesn't surprise me because they have a Hall of Fame coach. We have some more work to do." – Head Coach King Rice

-Myles Foster posted a career-best 11 points, his first career contest in double figures.
-Foster became the third freshman to score in doubles for MU this year, joining Klemen Vuga and Myles Ruth.
-Melik Martin scored in double figures for the ninth time in 10 games.
-Deion Hammond led Monmouth in scoring, hitting double figures with 16 for the 87^th time in his career.
-Monmouth dropped a weekend series for just the second time this season.
-Hammond tied his career best with four steals.
-Sam Chaput tied his career best with five made free throws.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth topped Iona in points off turnovers, 16-12.
-MU was better in second-chance points, 15-11.
-The Hawks forced 17 Iona turnovers.
-Isaiah Ross led Iona with 31 points.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth hosts Fairfield on Friday at 5:00 p.m.