Piscataway, NJ – Abdi Bashir Jr. set the program record for three-pointers made, netting 10 as part of a 38-point performance for Monmouth University Men's Basketball as the Hawks fell to Rutgers University Friday, 98-81.
 
Bashir made six of his 10 threes in the second half, helping Monmouth fight back to get within 11 at one point. He made two in the first 3:03 of the period to trim the Rutgers deficit inside 20, and then went on a personal 6-0 run with a four-point play included to make it an 11-point game at 5:22. Rutgers opened it back to a 17-point game, but Bashir wasn't done, hitting two more within a minute to tie and break the school record, and trim it to a 14-point game. Rutgers held on to win, 98-81.
 
Bashir and Madison Durr combined for three early triples to keep MU within a point early, but a Rutgers 16-1 run had them up 30-14. The Hawks responded, getting within 12 on Bashir's third three.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"When Abdi misses, that's when we're surprised. For him to break the record, against Rutgers, when I know Coach Pikiell and Coach Young are great defensive minds, a record that stood a long time, that's a pretty cool milestone and a pretty cool thing." – Head Coach King Rice
 
"I was just hooping, playing the game that I grew up loving. I didn't know that I set the record, and I wish it came in a win, but I put a lot of work into my game and my skill. My coaches, especially Coach Rice, instill confidence in my every day, he believes in me and my teammates get me open shots." – Abdi Bashir


-Abdi Bashir Jr. set the program record for three-pointers made with 10.
-Bashir's 10 threes is the most in the NCAA this season, and his 38 points is third most in the country.
-Bashir's 10 triples is second most in the history of Jersey Mike's Arena, and his 17 three-point attempts tied the arena record.
-Bashir's 38 points are tied for the 10^th most in a game in school history.
-The 38 points from Bashir is the second most in a game by a Hawk under King Rice (Justin Robinson, 40 at Siena, 2/13/17).
-Madison Durr scored in double figures for the fourth straight game to open the season, scoring a season-high 17 points.
-Chris Morgan netted a career-best seven points.
-Monmouth missed just one free throw, shooting over 90% from the line for the third time this season.
-Jaret Valencia made his season debut.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
 
-MU had 14 offensive rebounds to Rutgers' 10.
-Monmouth was better in second-chance points, 17-13.
-Each team had eight steals.
-Monmouth shot 90.9% from the foul line.

UP NEXT

-Monmouth heads to Wichita State Monday to match up with the Shockers. The tip is set for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+ and on the radio via the Monmouth Digital Networ