West Long Branch, NJ – Monmouth University Men's Basketball put five in double figures, including three players with a season-high in scoring in dominating the defending CAA champion College of Charleston, 84-73 Saturday. Abdi Bashir Jr. led the way with 22 points.
 
The Hawks exploded out of the locker room with a 9-0 run to take a six-point lead, one they would not relinquish. Bashir's steal and finish made it 10 at 14:39, and a 16-5 push capped by four in a row from Madison Durr gave Monmouth its largest lead at 19 with 7:46 to go. Charleston got it down to 10, but Bashir's three at 3:17 made it 15 and Dok Muordar converted four straight free throws to ice the win.
 
Monmouth led for the majority of the opening half, hitting three triples in 1:58 at one point to take a five-point lead at 19-14. Jack Collins' three at 6:58 made it a seven-point Hawks lead, but Charleston rallied to tie at 29 with 3:29 left. Cornelius Robinson III gave MU a four-point edge on a tough take at 2:39, and with the game tied, Charleston hit a buzzer-beating three to go to the locker room leading 38-35.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES

"Our guys were incredible and ready to compete today. We made them play defense, we were getting the shots we wanted and when we take the ones we're supposed to, it works." – Head Coach King Rice
 
"Our fans were awesome today, and it doesn't go unnoticed. I want them to know how much I appreciate every last one of them... these people support Monmouth basketball. It really showed tonight." – Rice on the fans
 
"Defensively, we really sat down and guarded. We came out of the half and shut them down and kind of continued that pressure defensively. They score 80+ points a game so defensively we did what we needed to do." – Guard Madison Durr
 
-Abdi Bashir Jr. posted his 11^th game this season with 20 or more points.
-Monmouth snapped Charleston's 15-game CAA winning streak dating back to February 1, 2024.
-Dok Muordar notched career-bests in points with 14 and blocks with four, his first career game in double figures.
-Chris Morgan scored 10 points, a career-high.
-Madison Durr scored his most points as a Hawk with 18 and had his most assists in an MU uniform with six.
-Jack Collins posted his fourth career double-double and first this season.
-Andrew Ball's three blocks were a career high.
-Monmouth's 10 blocks tied a season high.
-The Hawks scored 84 points, the second most in a game this season.
-Collins' 12 boards were the most by a Hawk in a game this season.
-This was MU's first ever win over Charleston.
-Cornelius Robinson III earned his first start since November 18 at Wichita State.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth was better from the field, 51% to 34%.
-MU topped Charleston from 3, 40% to 32%.
-The Hawks dominated in the paint, 36-24.
-Monmouth outrebounded Charleston, 42-40.
-MU led for 29:48 and only trailed for 6:48.

UP NEXT
-Monmouth visits North Carolina A&T on Thursday night, with tip at 7:00 p.m. on FloCollege and on the radio via the Monmouth Digital Network.