WASHINGTON, DC – Jack Collins scored a career-high 32 points, including 25 in the first half as Monmouth University Men's Basketball dominated Hampton University, 100-64 in the opening round of the 2023 Colonial Athletic Association Tournament Friday. Five Hawks scored in double figures, as MU set a CAA record for margin of victory in the tournament, winning by 36.
 
After Hampton was within 19 for 34 seconds, Jack Holmstrom hit the third of his three triples and the Hawks didn't look back from there. Myles Foster converted two buckets in 15 seconds to made it 70-44, and a 9-0 run saw Collins reach the 30-point mark with a four-point play to extend it to 79-46. MU's lead grew to as many as 36, the eventual final tally, a CAA Tournament record.
 
Collins netted a quick eight points and Holmstrom knocked in a three as it took MU less than six minutes to jump to a 12-point lead, 17-5. Up by nine, the Hawks scored the next 10 in a row, including another Holmstrom triple and a wide-open wing three from Myles Ruth to push the first-half lead to 19. Five straight from Ruth later in the period followed another Collins three as the Hawks opened a 24-point advantage, ultimately leading by 21 at the break.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"My guys really did a good job of executing what we worked on and today the ball went in for us at a high level. Just a good day for us, everybody was clicking and hopefully we can carry it through into tomorrow." – Head Coach King Rice
 
"We have nothing to hold back. Every game could be our last game so it's really about coming out every time and playing as hard as we can, playing freely in a win or go home game and that's what we did today." – Guard Jack Collins
 
-Monmouth's 36-point victory margin set a CAA Tournament record.
-MU's 55 first-half points tied a CAA Tournament record (Charleston, 2022 quarterfinals vs. Hofstra).
-Monmouth reached 100 points for the first time since February 13, 2017 at Siena.
-Collins scored a career-high 32 points, the 33^rd 30+ point game in CAA Tournament history.
-Collins' 32 is the third highest scoring game in Monmouth postseason history, trailing only Rahsaan Johnson (40 in 2000 NEC quarterfinals vs. St. Francis NY) and Corey Albano (33 in 1997 NEC finals vs. LIU).
-The win is Monmouth's first ever CAA Tournament victory.
-Collins made his first nine shots from the field, scoring 25 first-half points.
-Collins' 32 points is the most since George Papas' 32 against Hofstra on 12/15/20.
-Collins' 32 points and six threes are the most by a Hawk this season.
-Klemen Vuga scored in doubles for the seventh game in a row.
-Collins set a career-best with five steals.
-Jack Holmstrom made a career-best three triples, scoring in double digits for the second time in his career.
-Myles Ruth posted the second highest scoring total in his career, finishing with 18 on 4-4.
-MU's 21 assists are a season high and the most since 1/29/21 at Niagara.
-This marked the fourth 100+ point game under King Rice for Monmouth.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth shot 56.7% from the field and 58.8% from three, both season highs.
-The Hawks missed just two free throws, finishing 22-24 (91.7%).
-MU limited Hampton to 38% and 25% from three.
-MU dominated the paint, 44-24.
-Monmouth was better off turnovers, 26-6.
-The Hawks led for 38:06 and trailed for only 46 seconds.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth advances to play #5 Drexel tomorrow in Washington, DC with tip set for 2:00 p.m.