PHILADELPHIA, PA – Jaret Valencia scored a career-high 16 points, but Monmouth University Men's Basketball had a three-game winning streak snapped by the University of Pennsylvania Sunday, 76-61. MU concludes the Cathedral of College Basketball Classic with two wins, matching Penn and Belmont for the weekend.
 
After the Penn lead reached 20 early in the second half, Monmouth began to come back, with Valencia leading the way with a pair of dunks. Gabe Spinelli made two straight driving layups, and Jack Collins and Xander Rice each made triples to trim the deficit to seven. MU got it down to seven several times, but two Clark Slajchert threes helped Penn hold off the Hawks, 76-61.
 
The Hawks leapt to a lead early on, scoring six of the first eight points including a Jack Collins three to lead 6-2. The advantage was as large as seven after Cornelius Robinson Jr. hit a fadeaway jumper and Jakari Spence converted a triple to make it 17-10. Penn closed the half on a 26-8 run to lead 39-27 at the break.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES

"For two games this weekend we played outstanding but today, they made us not play well. They had a great plan on how to attack us defensively and it worked. I thought we fought hard to get back, we kept getting it to seven but they're a well-coached team so give them all the credit." – Head Coach King Rice
 
-Xander Rice was named to the Cathedral of College Basketball Classic All-Tournament Team.
-Jaret Valencia had a career-high 16 points.
-Gabe Spinelli added a season-best six points on 3-4 shooting.
-Jack Collins scored in double figures for the fourth time this season.
-Jakari Spence posted a career-best with six rebounds.
-Monmouth finished the Cathedral of College Basketball Classic 2-1, tying Penn and Belmont for the best record of the weekend.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth shot 51% in the second half.
-Monmouth was better in the paint, 38-36.
-MU posted 14 assists to nine turnovers.
-MU did not allow a fast break point, winning the battle 7-0.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth heads to Cornell Wednesday night to take on the Big Red. Tip is set for 7:00 p.m. on ESPN+ and on the radio via the Monmouth Digital Network.