HAMDEN, CT – Monmouth University Men's Basketball (15-7, 7-4 MAAC) moved back into the national lead with its ninth road win of the season, using 22 Walker Miller points to beat Quinnipiac Sunday in Hamden, CT 76-63. Four Hawks scored in double figures as MU trailed for just 38 seconds in the game.
 
Jacob Rigoni's two early second-half threes got Quinnipiac the closest they would get at five, with MU answering right back to build the lead to 12 again on a Miller jumper. MU held QU at an arms length for the majority of the half before QU got within five again at 7:02. Monmouth put that run to rest with a 9-0 push of their own that included a Marcus McClary triple and eventually led by as many as 16 en route to the road win.
 
An early 8-2 run capped by a Papas steal and finish in transition, plus the foul game the Hawks a 14-8 advantage that grew to 10 when Papas knocked in a three and Jarvis Vaughan finished at the rim. After the Bobcats later trimmed the deficit to four, Monmouth scored the next 11 points including triples from Shavar Reynolds and Marcus McClary to lead by 15, their largest margin of the period before taking an 11-point lead to the break.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES

"Our kids really came out here focused. I thought Shavar started the game with such intensity and lifted up everyone and I think the grown men on our team said they were going toi play like they were supposed to. We shared the ball, they followed the plan, we said we were going to have good execution. Our guys really bought into that and when we play smart basketball, we're a problem." – Head Coach King Rice
 
"This is my first time getting one at Quinnipiac and it feels good. This is always a tough and crazy game up here so I'm happy me and the guys pulled it out today. The focus was really for us to play together and we could get a win." – Guard Marcus McClary
 
"I wanted to take on the challenge and try to match up to Marfo and play up to his level and try and help us win a game. He's a really good player and does a lot of things a lot of bigs can't go so it was a challenge for me to match up with him on every possession. Defense is what defines this team, that's how we need to play and that's when we're at our best." – Center Walker Miller
 
-Monmouth picked up its ninth true road win of the season, tied with Navy for the most in the nation.
-MU's four fifth-year seniors all scored in double figures for the fourth time this season (St. Joe's, St. John's, Manhattan).
-MU won at Quinnipiac for the first time since December 1, 2016.
-Monmouth has won five of its last six games.
-The Hawks have topped Quinnipiac four times in a row.
-Monmouth evened the all-time series with Quinnipiac as Division I opponents at 22 each.
-Walker Miller posted his fifth 20+ point outing of the season, second most on the team.
-Marcus McClary made three triples in the game, a career high.
-Shavar Reynolds, Marcus McClary and George Papas each scored in double figures.
-Jarvis Vaughan's five rebounds marked a season-best.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth outrebounded Quinnipiac 39-36.
-MU made eight triples to QU's seven.
-The Hawks forced 17 QU turnovers.
-QU put just two in double figures, led by 14 from Tyrese Williams.
 
UP NEXT
-Monmouth hosts Marist Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m.