STONY BROOK, NY – Monmouth University Men's Basketball put two in double figures, led by 18 from Xander Rice, but fell Thursday night at Island Federal Arena to Stony Brook University, 72-65.
 
After Stony Brook took a seven-point lead early in the second half, MU came right back to take the lead on a Jack Collins free throw at the 13:00 mark. MU led after Rice got to the rim at 11:25, and Abdi Bashir Jr. got on a personal 8-0 run to draw the Hawks within two at 5:48, but Tyler Stephenson-Moore scored seven in a row to push the lead to 10 and Stony Brook held Monmouth off from there.
 
A defensive first half saw MU take its first lead at 9:22 when Rice got to the rim, and that lead ran to three after Jack Holmstrom snared an offensive rebound and put it back in. With the Hawks up one entering the final minute, Stony Brook finished on a 7-1 spurt to take a 24-20 lead into the break.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"Give all the credit to Stony Brook, tonight they finished this game. This league is tough, we're trying to compete with those teams at the top." – Head Coach King Rice
 
-Xander Rice led Monmouth with 18 points, his 18^th double-figure game this season.
-Jaret Valencia's nine rebounds were the second highest output of the season for the forward.
-Jack Collins scored in double figures for the 11^th time this year.
-Monmouth topped the 40-rebound mark for the fourth time this season.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth outrebounded Stony Brook 41-32.
-MU was better in the paint, 30-16.
-Each team had 14 assists.
-Monmouth was better on the fast break, 9-2.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth hosts Hofstra on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. on FloSports. Tickets are available at MonmouthHawks.com.