2021-22 Monmouth Basketball MAAC Finals Preview

Monmouth Hawks (21-12, 11-9 MAAC) vs. Saint Peter's Peacocks (18-11, 14-16 MAAC)
Saturday, March 12, 2022 - 4:00 p.m.
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ

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

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

RADIO
Westwood One
Play-by-Play: Chris Carrino
Analyst: Nick Bahe

QUICK BULLETS

-Monmouth is into the finals for the third time since 2016
-MU is looking for the program's first NCAA Tournament bid since 2006
-Monmouth is shooting 52.8% from three in the MAAC Tournament
-George Papas set the program's single-season 3FGM record vs. Niagara and became the first to hit 100 vs. Rider
-MU is looking for the fifth conference title in school history
-This is MU's last MAAC Tourney game ever 
-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
-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 first NCAA Tournament since 2006
-secure MU a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in school history (1996, 2001, 2004, 2006)
-give Monmouth its first ever MAAC title
-be King Rice's first conference championship
-mark MU's 22nd win of the season
-be Monmouth's first win over SPU in MAAC Tournament play
-make Monmouth the second MAAC team to 22 overall victories (Iona)
-be King Rice's 10th MAAC Tournament win all time

NOTES FROM THE LAST TIME OUT
-Monmouth is headed to their third finals in the MAAC and second in four seasons.
-George Papas was 9-9 from the foul line in the final 56 seconds.
-Papas hit his 100th three of the season, the only Hawk to ever do so
-MU moves to 2-1 against Rider in MAAC Tournament play.
-King Rice is now 9-7 in MAAC Tournament games.
-MU's six turnovers was a season low.
-Jarvis Vaughan's two triples matched a season high.
-Monmouth was better off the bench 10-2.
-Monmouth led for 24:15 of the game.
-17 of Papas' 20 points came in the second half.

MORE INFO ON THE ALL-TIME SERIES
-The series between the teams as DI opponents is 24-14 Saint Peter's
-Overall, the series stands at 30-16 Saint Peter's
-Under King Rice, MU is 9-11 against Saint Peter's
-The series is 11-9 Peacocks as MAAC foes
-MU and Saint Peter's have met once in a MAAC Tournament, with SPU winning a  2018 first-round game on a Nick Griffin buzzer beater, 60-58
-Monmouth has won four of seven over Saint Peter's overall
-MU is looking to win for the first time this season against the Peacocks
-This is the 47th meeting all-time between the schools