Nacogdoches, TX – Abdi Bashir Jr. scored 30 points, his second game of 30+ points this season, but Monmouth University Men's Basketball was narrowly edged out by Stephen F. Austin State University Friday in the middle game of the Axe 'Em Classic, 72-67.
 
Neither team separated by more than five points in the second half, with the Hawks going on top on a Jaret Valencia basket with 8:28 to go. MU had several chances thanks to solid defense in the final seconds and Bashir got a look to tie the game with 14 seconds left, but the Lumberjacks held on to win, 72-67.
 
Monmouth opened the game on a 12-2 run, getting two triples from Bashir and two dunks from Valencia. A tight half saw Monmouth lead for the bulk of the first 20 minutes, and Chris Morgan's late jumper sent MU to the locker room with a four-point lead, 32-28.

NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"That effort is what you need, that's what we're known for. This is very hard to deal with but we're a resilient group. They came out today and they played for 40 minutes. A lot of these young men are in new roles and our main guys are sophomores so it takes some time to learn how to win. I told the kids, you battle a team for 40 minutes and shake their hand. We ask them to battle for 40 and that's what our kids did today." – Head Coach King Rice
 
-Abdi Bashir posted his second game of 30+ points this season.
-Bashir's 12 made field goals marked a career-best.
-Jaret Valencia scored in double figures for the second game in a row.
-Aric Demings posted a season-best nine points and five assists.
-This was Monmouth's first ever meeting with Stephen F. Austin.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth was better off turnovers, 22-17.
-The Hawks topped SFA off the bench, 19-10.
-MU was better on the move, 17-12.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth closes out the Axe 'Em Classic tomorrow at noon Eastern against Presbyterian. There is no streaming or TV broadcast, but the game will air on the radio on the Monmouth Digital Network.