WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth University Men's Basketball got a 13 point, nine rebound performance from freshman Andrew Ball and were tied into the latter stages of the second half, but ultimately fell to Stony Brook University, 67-56 Thursday.
 
After SBU took a 15-point lead early in the second, Monmouth went on a 13-0 run to tie the game, sparked by two dunks from Ball and a three from Jakari Spence at the end of the shot clock. Myles Foster's two foul shots tied the game with 9:54 to go, and MU trailed by just three with 6:03 to play after Klemen Vuga made a leaner. Stony Brook followed that with a 12-2 run to take a 12-point lead, and held on to win by 11.
 
Down six in the early stages, Monmouth used a 10-0 run to lead by four at 10:13, with eight of the points coming from Vuga and Foster. Myles Ruth made a three to give Monmouth a one-point lead, 21-20 at 6:24, but Stony Brook finished the period with an 18-5 push to lead 38-26 into the locker room.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"I thought we did a better job in spurts today. I thought we started the game with the right energy. When we don't score, our defense really suffers. They got away from us a little bit, we came all the way back and then we break down. We just have to keep trying to put it together for 40." – Head Coach King Rice
 
-Andrew Ball tied his career high with 13 points and also grabbed a career-best nine rebounds.
-Myles Foster scored in double figures for the 10^th time this season.
-Jack Collins notched his seven double-digit effort of the year.
-Monmouth's nine turnovers are a season low.
-Monmouth concluded a four-game home stand today.
-MU started its eighth different starting lineup today.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth was better off the bench, 18-9.
-The Hawks had 17 points off turnovers to 14 for Stony Brook.
-Monmouth was better in the paint, 28-22.
-The game featured six lead changes and seven ties.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth is at Drexel this Saturday for a 2:00 p.m. tip.