WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Xander Rice scored the final 16 points of the game for Monmouth University Men's Basketball as the Hawks won their CAA opener against Towson University Thursday, 51-43. Monmouth outrebounded Towson, who came in 10^th nationally in rebounding margin, and got 21 points from Rice and a career-high 13 rebounds from Jack Collins.
 
An early 6-0 run in the second half had MU up five, but the advantage never reached more than that and Towson took a three-point lead at 7:51 after two Christian May foul shots. That set up Rice to take over, knocking in a mid-range jumper at 6:45 to begin his run of 16 straight MU points. He got to the rim to score and put Monmouth up at 6:09, and then netted a three, plus the foul from the win to make it a five-point edge at 3:47. During this run, the Hawks did not allow a point on defense for 7:12, with Rice going 9-10 from the foul line in the last four minutes to secure the win.
 
Monmouth's defense limited Towson to just 20 points in the first half, including 22.6% from the field and seven made field goals. After opening a six-point lead following a 6-0 run, Towson went back in front with a 10-0 run of their own. MU halted that stretch with a Valencia transition dunk and a three-point play from Nikita Konstantynovskyi, and after Jakari Spence tied it with a transition bucket, Valencia's free throw in the final seconds sent MU to the locker room with a 21-20 lead.  
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"This was just a tough, they know what we do and we know what they do type of college basketball game. I think the teams are pretty evenly matched and tonight we outlasted them. It could have gone any way, these teams are pretty much even but for us to outrebound Towson is one of the coolest things that we've accomplished this year. They are great at that and for us to be able to even battle them, I told our guys if they do like they do to everyone else and get 12 more than us, that's a hard game to win so I'm so proud of my guys." – Head Coach King Rice
 
"I feel like earlier on in my career I might have started pressing a little bit because I wasn't shooting a lot and when I was, I was rushing a little bit and not making them. I think as an older, fifth year guy that's been through a few conference seasons, I knew what to expect a little bit and knew to stay patient. I knew my teammates and coaches trust me and the shots were going to come, so just keep playing my game. I think it was more of a maturity thing to stay patient, keep playing and know that shots were coming my way at some point." – Graduate Xander Rice
 
-Monmouth held Towson to 43 points, the lowest in a win since allowing just 40 to Kennesaw State on November 22, 2019.
-Xander Rice scored Monmouth's final 16 points of the game, including a personal 12-0 run.
-Monmouth held Towson off the scoreboard from 7:51 to the :39 second mark of the second half, a 7:12 run of shutout defense.
-MU won its CAA opener for the first time ever.
-The Hawks outrebounded Towson 45-42, with Towson entering the game 10^th nationally in rebounding margin.
-Each team had 13 offensive rebounds, with Towson coming in second in the country in offensive boards.
-Monmouth limited Towson to 20 and 23 points in each half, the fourth halves MU has held an opponent in the 20's this year.
-Jack Collins tied a career-high with 13 rebounds, his fourth double-digit rebounding game this year.
-Rice scored 20+ points for the eighth time this season.
-Monmouth opens conference play 1-0 for the fifth time under King Rice.
-MU won a game making just one triple, its least since making none at Stony Brook in a victory on February 8, 2023.
-The Hawks top Towson for the first time as league members, and the first time ever at home.
-Jaret Valencia and Nikita Konstantynovskyi each tied a career-best with three blocks.
-Towson shot 27.6% from the field, Monmouth's best field goal % defense since limiting Fairfield to 22.2% on March 4, 2020.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-MU limited Towson to 27.6% shooting, a season low.
-Monmouth was better off turnovers, 17-8.
-MU was better in the paint, 30-16.
-The game featured 14 lead changes and four ties.
-Monmouth led for 26:18.
-The Hawks outrebounded Towson, 45-42.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth hosts Northeastern on Monday night at 7:00 p.m. The game will air nationally on CBS Sports Network. Tickets are available at MonmouthHawks.com/Tickets.