Box Score WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth University Men's Basketball (13-7, 5-4 MAAC) came back from down 14 points in each half and forced overtime, but Niagara University (9-11, 4-7) came out on top Sunday, 70-69 at the OceanFirst Bank Center.
 
Monmouth led by four with 1:06 left in overtime after a Papas triple and two foul shots. Marcus Hammond got to the line with 48 seconds to go to cut it to two, and after a stop, Justin Roberts hit a three with eight seconds to go to make it 70-69 Niagara. McClary and Walker Miller both got off shots on the other end but neither fell and Niagara escaped with the road win.
 
Niagara started the half on a 16-2 run, including four threes, to lead by 16. A 14-3 run from the Hawks got that back down to five but Niagara's lead was eight with 3:09 remaining. Marcus McClary knocked in back-to-back triples before three Myles Ruth foul shots tied the game and ultimately gave MU the lead. Greg Kuakumensah had a chance to give NU the lead from the line with 36 seconds left but split a pair, forcing OT.
 
A Hammond three put Niagara up 23-9 before MU ripped off a 14-2 run with all the baskets coming from Papas, Miller and Chaput to tie the game at 28. A late Purple Eagles bucket sent them to the room leading 30-28.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
""All the credit to Niagara. They outplayed us, they outfought us, and when that happens you don't deserve to win. Credit to our group for fighting to try to get back, but it's easy to come back and hard to come back and win." – Head Coach King Rice
 
-Marcus McClary tied the program record held by Diago Quinn for all-time games played with his 136^th.
-Monmouth had a three-game win streak snapped.
-George Papas posted his 10^th career 20+ point game and seventh this season.  
-Walker Miller's double-figure effort was the 16^th of his season.
-Sam Chaput scored in double figures for the sixth time in his career and second this season.
-Nikkei Rutty's 10 rebounds is his third double-digit rebound game this season.
-Myles Ruth notched his third career double-digit effort and second this season.
-Chaput made his second start of the year.


NUMBERS CRUNCH
-MU outrebounded Niagara 46-39.
-Monmouth was better on the move, 22-3.
-There were five ties and four lead changes.
-Marcus Hammond led all scorers with 27 points.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth hosts Fairfield to wrap up the homestand Friday night at 7:00 p.m.