WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth University Men's Basketball (13-6, 5-3 MAAC) used a late 10-0 run and 22 points from George Papas to charge past Canisius College (7-13, 3-6 MAAC) on Friday night, 72-67 for the Hawks' third win in a row.
 
MU led in the early stages of the second before consecutive threes from Akrum Ahemed gave Canisius a two-point edge. George Maslennikov's triple gave the Griffs a lead they would hold for over five minutes, as Canisius led by six with 5:23 remaining. Walker Miller started the MU run, and after Shavar Reynolds got to the rim to trim it to two, Papas buried a wing three with 3:23 left to give Monmouth the lead. MU would score the next four points and come away with several key stops, including Miller blocking a three-point attempt with 19 seconds left. Armon Harried scored Canisius' lone two points in the final 5:23 from the foul line with 2.3 seconds to play to cut it to three, but Papas iced it with 1.2 left to send MU to its third win in a row.
 
After the teams traded early baskets, Monmouth led for the final 15:24 of the first half. An 8-0 run capped by a Papas triple had MU up 16-8, but Canisius used a pair of Ahamadou Fofana threes to trim it back to one. MU led by six following another Papas long ball and a Myles Foster dunk, but Canisius was able to get it to 41-39 Hawks at the break.

NOTES AND QUOTES

"I have to give credit to my guys, they're grown ups. We didn't have our best night and these older guys took it over. I'm fortunate that I have these guys with me but that's why you put together a team like this. On nights when you don't have your best, the older guys pull your group together and get it done." – Head Coach King Rice
 
"When we saw them in Buffalo they played a really good second half so we knew they were going to come to fight and not back down to anything. Not our best game but I'm glad we got it done, a win is a win in the MAAC."
 
-Monmouth has won three in a row, all in the league.
-Walker Miller's four blocked shots is a career-high, and ties for the most by a Hawk this season (Myles Foster vs. Iona).
-MU's nine blocks as a team marked a season-high.
-George Papas posted his ninth career 20+ point game, and sixth this season.
-The win was Monmouth's 99^th MAAC victory all time.
-MU sweeps the season series with Canisius, the first completed MAAC series of the season for Monmouth.
-MU limited Canisius to zero field goals in the final 5:23 and just two points total.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth outshot 44% to 39%.
-MU was better in the paint 28-20.
-The game featured five ties and seven lead changes.
-Armon Harried led Canisius with 22 points.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth hosts Niagara this Sunday, with tip scheduled for 2:00 p.m.