RIVERDALE, NY – The Monmouth University Men's Basketball team (9-5, 9-4 MAAC) had three seniors score in double figures, including 18 points and nine rebounds from Melik Martin (York, PA/York Catholic) and topped Manhattan College (5-7, 4-7 MAAC) 70-65 in front of a national-television audience on Friday night. Deion Hammond (Mitchellville, MD/Riverdale Baptist School) tied the program record for made three pointers when he made his 260^th in the second half.

An 11-2 run to begin the second half staked the Hawks to a quick 13-point lead, 48-35 in the beginning stages of the second half. MU continued to lead by no less than eight until Samir Stewart's three at 2:53 cut it to seven. Manhattan got as close as four but no closer, as the Blue and White got late stops to convert the victory.
 
Martin scored the first five points of the game to stake the Hawks to a quick 5-0 lead, and the Blue and White led 10-2 in the early stages. A tight first half saw Monmouth lead for the majority, but the Jaspers scored five in a row to lead by one at 7:51. The Hawks ripped off the next seven and never trailed again, with Hammond knocking in a late three to send MU to the locker room up four.

NOTES AND QUOTES

"This is always an interesting game. I think part of it is because Steve [Masiello] and I are so close. We really know each other and we talk a lot, we both got these jobs 10 years ago and he's one of my closest friends in coaching. When we were up 10 or 11 late I knew the game was getting ready to be down to the wire because that's how he coaches." – King Rice

"If you can get the first one, that really helps you. It settles you down a little bit. Winning the first game is big so you can breathe a little bit. You hate to go into that second game, especially on the road already having lost one of the games so we're happy to get this one." -King Rice

"I've been getting coached a lot more to crash the boards on the offensive end and get us some more possessions. Williams is a great player, he's really athletic but we just have to continue to box out and give our best efforts and be there for each other." -Melik Martin

"Getting the first win is very important, I think it sets the tone for the series. We just have to come out with even more intensity tomorrow. They're a very tough team, every time we play them it's an aggressive game so we have to be prepared tomorrow." – Deion Hammond

-Deion Hammond tied Dave Calloway's program record for made three pointers, making his 260^th in the second half.
-Melik Martin posted his 17^th career game in double figures, and sixth in the last seven games.
-Martin was one rebound shy of his second consecutive double-double, with the nine rebounds marking as the second highest total of his career.
-Myles Ruth dished out a career best six assists.
-George Papas scored in double digits for the 23^rd time in his career and fifth time in a row.
-Nikkei Rutty grabbed seven boards, the fourth time this year he's has seven or more boards.
-MU is now 6-1 in MAAC series opening games.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth outshot Manhattan 47.1% to 36.2%.
-MU held the Jaspers to 23.3% from three-point range.
-The Hawks and Jaspers each pulled in 39 rebounds.
-MU led for 37:06 of the game and never trailed in the second half.
-The Hawks outran MC, 9-0 on the fast break.
-Manhattan was led by 16 points and 10 rebounds by Warren Williams.

UP NEXT
-The teams square off again tomorrow night at 9:00 p.m. The game will air on ESPN3 and on the radio via the Monmouth Digital Network.