Nacogdoches, TX – Jack Collins had a season-high 25 points and Dok Muordar grabbed a career-high nine rebounds, but Monmouth University Men's Basketball was defeated in the final game of the Axe 'Em Classic, 71-61 Saturday by Presbyterian College.
 
The Blue Hose led by 15, but Collins scored seven points including two threes in 55 seconds to make it an eight-point game. The Presbyterian lead grew as large as 17, but the Hawks didn't go away, scoring seven in a row capped by a Justin Ray three pointer to trim it to nine. Presbyterian made three free throws and a transition layup down the stretch to hold on, 71-61.
 
A back-and-forth opening half saw Aric Demings score five straight points to tie the game at 28 with 5:27 remaining. Presbyterian then used a 12-0 run to lead 40-28, and Jamahri Harvey's three in the closing seconds made it 45-32 at the break.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"I thought the positives of the game were that Dok played really well today. We gave him a chance to get out there and he had nine rebounds. I thought he impacted the game and that's when we played a little bit better. I was so happy for Jack Collins that he played like we all know he can. We have to get tougher and there's some things that we know we can fix, we just have to keep working together to get our chemistry." – Head Coach King Rice

-Jack Collins scored 20+ points for the first time since the 2023 CAA Tournament, when he scored 32 vs. Hampton as a freshman.
-Dok Muordar grabbed a career-high nine rebounds.
-Justin Ray posted a career-best 14 points, his third game in double digits this season.
-This was the first ever matchup between Monmouth and Presbyterian.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
 
-Monmouth was better on the fast break, 15-9.
-The Hawks topped Presbyterian off the bench, 19-13.
-MU shot 42.2% to PC's 45%.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth takes on in-state foe Seton Hall next Saturday, November 30, at noon on FS2 and the Monmouth Digital Network at the Prudential Center.