ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – A 21-win season and a trip to the MAAC Finals came to a conclusion on Saturday night in the title game, as Monmouth University Men's Basketball was edged by Saint Peter's, 60-54. Graduate students Walker Miller and Shavar Reynolds were named to the All-MAAC Tournament Team.
 
Monmouth cut into the Saint Peter's nine-point lead in the second half with an 8-0 run capped by a Miller finish in transition to trim the deficit to two. The lead never grew larger than four until Marcus McClary converted a three-point play at 4:49 to make it a one-point contest, and a pair of Miller foul shots at 1:42 trimmed it to two again. MU had the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead, but couldn't convert ahead of Doug Edert's three at the 46-second mark to give SPU a five-point advantage, ultimately winning by six.
 
Monmouth opened the game with the first six points, but a mini-SPU run put them up at 11:51. MU regained the lead on a Jarvis Vaughan triple, but the Peacocks netted seven of the final nine points of the period to take a four-point lead to the half.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES

"This hurts a lot. As bad as this hurts right now, I'm happy for my brother Shaheen. I want to credit those kids over there. We'll be alright, we've been through this before, we have a very good program at Monmouth." – Head Coach King Rice

"I'm thankful for this, even though this stings. I appreciate King, I appreciate Monmouth unconditionally. I can't express how much this process has helped me grow, even with this stinging loss I wouldn't trade it honestly. I have no regrets." – Shavar Reynolds

-Monmouth's Shavar Reynolds and Walker Miller were named to the MAAC All-Tournament Team.
-The 21-win season is the seventh 20+ win season in MU's Division I history.
-George Papas concludes his career with the fifth most threes all time and most in a single season.
-Marcus McClary finishes his career with 150 games played, the most in program history.
-Walker Miller's 11 made foul shots are the most in a game by a Hawk this season.
-Shavar Reynolds finishes his one season at MU with 26 double-figure games.
-Jarvis Vaughan posted his second career double-figure game, all 10 coming in the opening half.
-This marked Monmouth's third appearance in the MAAC Finals in the last six chances.
-This was MU's final MAAC Tournament game ever, with the Hawks set to start play in the CAA next season.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-MU shot 81.8% from the free throw line.
-Monmouth outrebounded SPU 40-34.
-Three Hawks scored in double figures.
 
UP NEXT
-Monmouth concludes the season with 21 wins and a trip to the MAAC title game. The Hawks will begin play in the CAA next season.