WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Xander Rice knocked in a three for the lead with 1:46 to go as Monmouth University Men's Basketball won a thriller over first-place Drexel Thursday, 67-62. MU scored eight of the final 11 points to win its ninth straight home game, an OceanFirst Bank Center record.
 
The Hawk lead was as many as 14 early in the second half before Justin Moore's dunk got it down to three. Drexel's first lead of the game came with 7:34 to go in regulation, and held for just under three minutes before two Rice trips to the line put Monmouth back in front. In a tie game with under two minutes remaining, Rice nailed a left wing three to put MU in front and after a stop, got to the rim to make it five. Drexel got it to four but Monmouth's defense held and the Hawks topped the first-place Dragons, 67-62.
 
The Hawks scored the games first 10 points, capped by a Jaret Valencia three, and did not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the opening half. Drexel cut it to two, only for Monmouth to go on a 12-2 run with Jakari Spence hitting a late shot clock three to make it 26-14 at 6:17. MU led by 10 at the break after a late Nikita Konstantynovskyi layup.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES

"I definitely think this was growth, with this team there is so much opportunity to grow. We have a lot of guys in new roles. The sky is still the limit for this team." – Head Coach King Rice

"You have to give Drexel a lot of credit, they made it really tough on me. I've spent hours in this gym so the coaches and my teammates have put all the confidence in the world in me and it's given me all the conference late in games." – Graduate guard Xander Rice
 
-Monmouth set an OceanFirst Bank Center record for longest home winning streak, which now stands at nine.
-Monmouth has beaten Drexel at home in back-to-back seasons.
-Jaret Valencia posted his third four-block game of the season.
-Jakari Spence scored a season-high 12 points, his fifth career game in double figures.
-King Rice is now 4-3 all time against Drexel.
-Monmouth has wins over the top two teams in the CAA standings this season.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth outshot Drexel 43% to 38%.
-MU outshot the Dragons from three, 35% to 20%.
-The Hawks were better off turnovers, 13-10.
-Monmouth led for 33:36 of the game.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth heads to Delaware Saturday to take on the Blue Hens at 2:00 p.m. on FloSports and on the radio via the Monmouth Digital Network.