Final Score 
Monmouth (3-3, 0-0 CAA) – 80
Ball State (2-4, 0-0 MAC) – 73
 
EASTON, Pa. – The Monmouth men's basketball team opened the Lafayette Classic with an 80-73 victory over Ball State on Friday afternoon in Easton, Pa.
 
Andrew Ball matched his career-best with 16 points and Junip Doboul recorded a career-high 12 to lead the Hawks (3-3, 0-0 CAA) offensively inside the Kirby Sports Center. Justin Ray and Jack Collins each hit double figures as well, giving Monmouth four double-digit scorers for the second consecutive game.
 
With the Hawks down a pair early, Ray's second three-pointer of the game gave Monmouth an 8-7 edge at the first media timeout. Tied at 14 midway through the half, Doboul put the Hawks back in front with five straight points on back-to-back possessions. Later in the half, with his team up 21-19, Doboul scored five straight again, connecting from deep before earning a steal and slam on the ensuing defensive possession, igniting a 7-0 Hawks run to extend the lead to 28-19.
 
The Cardinals scored 10 of the game's next 12 points to get back within one, 30-29, entering the final minute of the opening half before Corelius Robinson III finished through contact and hit the ensuing free throw, extending the lead back to four. Ray hit an 18-footer in the waning seconds to send the Hawks into the locker room up, 35-29.
 
The strong three-point shooting continued in the second half, as the Hawks hit four of their first seven attempts from deep to begin the period. Collins connected just over four minutes in to push the lead to eight, 45-37. The Cardinals rallied to take a 53-51 advantage, but a 12-3 response from Monmouth, capped by a pair of Collins three-pointers, put the Hawks up seven, 63-56.
 
Ball took over from that point, scoring the next four points and 12 of the game's next 18 points, helping Monmouth open its largest lead of the afternoon with his second three-pointer of the game at the 5:25 mark of the second half, 76-63.
 
The Cardinals rallied late in the game, getting back within five with a minute to play, 78-73, but a clutch stop by the Monmouth defense with under 30 seconds left forced Ball State to foul. The Hawks then iced the game at the free throw line and closed out their second consecutive win.
 
Quotes
"I'm happy with today's result. Jinup and Andrew stepped up huge for us. As a team, we have to stay consistent. It's tough playing three days in a row, but it's what you have to do in the [CAA] tournament. We're excited for another opportunity tomorrow." – Head Coach King Rice
 
Notes

• Sophomore guard Jinup Doboul scored 12 points, all in the first half, to set a new career-best.
• Doboul was 5-for-7 from the field and hit a pair from deep.
• Senior Andrew Ball matched his career-best, scoring 16 points in 20 minutes off the bench. Ball hit a pair of second-half three pointers and was 6-of-9 from the field. It was the first time the forward scored 16 since his freshman campaign.
• Senior Jack Collins scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds. The six boards give him 581 for his career, moving him into sole possession of seventh place on the program's all-time rebounding list.
• Collins has at least five rebounds in every game this season and is averaging 6.8 per contest.
• Justin Ray hit twice from deep and scored 10 points overall. The sophomore has reached double figures in three straight games.
• As a team, Monmouth shot 9-for-21 from beyond the arc, converting at a 42.9 percent clip.
• Monmouth won the rebounding battle, 40-29.

 
Up Next
Monmouth will return to action in the Lafayette Classic tomorrow afternoon, facing Le Moyne. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.