2021-22 Monmouth Basketball MAAC Semifinals Preview

Monmouth Hawks (20-12, 11-9 MAAC) vs. Rider Broncs (14-18, 8-12 MAAC)
Friday, March 11, 2022 - 6:00 p.m.
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ

TV
ESPNNews
Play-by-Play: Jason Benetti
Analyst: Tim Welsh

RADIO
Monmouth Digital Network
Play-by-Play: Eddy Occhipinti
Analyst: Bob Lampinen

QUICK BULLETS

-Monmouth is into the semifinals for the fifth time in the last seven tries
-George Papas set the program's single-season 3FGM record vs. Niagara
-MU's quarterfinal win was the first MAAC Tournament win since the '19 semi
-Monmouth secured a bye for the sixth time in nine seasons and third in a row
-The Hawks are third nationally in true road wins with 10
-George Papas (1st), Walker Miller (2nd) and Shavar Reynolds (3rd) were All-MAAC
-MU picked up its seventh 20+ win season in the school's DI history
-MU and Rider split during the regular season, with the home team winning each
-Monmouth tied for the league lead with three All-MAAC selections (Iona)
-King Rice set the program's all-time DI wins record with #179 against Siena

A MONMOUTH WIN WOULD...

-send Monmouth to its third MAAC final in the last seven seasons
-secure a trip to the finals for the first time since 2019
-mark MU's 21st win of the season
-move King Rice over .500 against Rider in his career
-be Monmouth's second win over Rider in MAAC Tournament play
-make Monmouth the second MAAC team to 21 overall victories (Iona)
-be King Rice's ninth MAAC Tournament win all time
-continue Monmouth's season to Saturday to take on the winner of #2 SPU/#11 QU

NOTES FROM THE LAST TIME OUT...

-Monmouth advances to the MAAC semifinals for the fifth time in the last seven tries.
-MU picked up its 20th win of the season for the third time under King Rice, seventh time in the programs DI history and 16th time in the overall program history.
-George Papas' first-half three gave him 98 for the season, topping the program's single-season record for made threes.
-This marked Monmouth's first MAAC Tournament win since the 2019 semifinals.
-MU takes the season series from Niagara, 2-1.
-The Hawks shot a season-best 56.3% from three.
-MU outshot Niagara 41% to 36%.
-Monmouth outrebounded Niagara 42-33.
-Monmouth led for 35:52 and did not trail in the second half.

MORE INFO ON THE ALL-TIME SERIES
-The series between the teams as DI opponents is 32-26 Rider
-Under King Rice, MU is 11-11 against Rider
-The series is 11-10 Monmouth as MAAC foes
-MU and Rider have met twice in MAAC Tournaments, with Rider winning a 2014 first-round game and Monmouth winning a 2016 quarterfinal matchup
-Monmouth has won three of four over Rider overall
-MU is looking to win the season series over Rider this season
-This is the 64th meeting all-time between the schools
-Since 2016, MU has won nine of 14 
-Rider leads the all-time series 33-29
-Monmouth topped Rider in West Long Branch on February 18 by a 60-58 count