WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Five Hawks scored in double figures and Nikkei Rutty posted a double-double as Monmouth University Men's Basketball (12-6, 4-3 MAAC) ran past Manhattan College (10-7, 3-4 MAAC) Sunday. The win is Monmouth's second straight after the Blue and White led by as many as 21 and never trailed on the afternoon.
 
Monmouth wasted no time in the second half, with Shavar Reynolds getting going with a pair of buckets sandwiched around a three that ballooned the lead to 14. MU's lead never fell below double digits again, as Walker Miller and George Papas knocked home threes ahead of a Marcus McClary left-handed dunk in transition to make it a 21-point game. Monmouth eventually cruised to a 78-62 win.
 
MU led by four early, and consecutive triples from Papas and Marcus McClary made it a seven-point margin. When Manhattan whittled the lead down to just two, MU scored the next eight, including a Miller transition dunk to extend it to 31-21. The Jaspers scored seven straight and the half ended with Monmouth up 35-31.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES

"Today, I think we just had more energy. They really had to put a lot out there Friday night and we were able to get them today. With this group, we have guys that can score at every position and we were able to get it done." – Head Coach King Rice
 
"The more we're on the boards, the more chance we have to win. This game, I made more of an emphasis to box out and get the guys off so even if I don't get it, someone else does. We won the rebounding battle by a large margin so I feel if we keep hitting the glass like this we'll be tough to beat." – Nikkei Rutty
 
-Nikkei Rutty posted his second career double-double, and first since February 2, 2020 against Rider.
-Rutty's 15 boards as his career-high, and the second most in a game for a Hawk under King Rice (Diago Quinn – 16 vs. Niagara in 2016).
-Five Hawks scored in double figures for the second time this season (St. John's).
-All five of Monmouth's starters scored in double figures for the first time since the 2019 MAAC quarterfinals vs. Quinnipiac on March 9, 2019. Marcus McClary started both of those for MU.
-MU has won seven in a row over Manhattan.
-Monmouth is the second MAAC team to reach 12 wins.
-Monmouth is now 13-9 all time against Manhattan.
-Jakari Spence recorded his first career steal.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-MU outshot Manhattan 43% to 36%.
-The Hawks dominated the glass, 48-32.
-Monmouth was better in the paint, 36-22.
-MU led for 38:41 and never trailed.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth hosts Canisius Friday night at 7:00 p.m.