Monmouth University Athletics

HAMDEN, CT – Stefanos Spartalis posted his second straight double-double which helped the Monmouth University men's basketball team battle for a 74-70 win at Quinnipiac University on Thursday evening. 

Spartalis paced the Hawks with 20 points and 14 rebounds while Ashton Walker added 14 points and Torrey Brooks Jr. finished with 13 points as the Hawks claimed their first win of the season. 

A pair of early buckets from Stephen Osei gave the Hawks a 7-5 advantage with 17:24 to go in the first half. A 10-2 run by Quinnipiac gave the home team a 15-9 edge with 12:45 remaining in the period. 

The two teams continued to battle as a lay-up from Lucas Sekasi gave the Bobcats a 19-13 edge with 10:34 to go in the period.

A 7-2 run by the Hawks pulled Monmouth to within one, 21-20 with 8:45 left on the clock. Jack Collins had a three-pointer in that stretch for the Hawks. 

Quinnipiac responded with a 8-0 run and pushed its lead to 29-20 with 6:27 showing on the clock. That was the Bobcats' largest lead of the game. 

The two teams traded baskets over the next several minutes. Back-to-back three-pointers from Collins and Walker pulled the Hawks to within one, 37-36 at the half.
Spartalis scored the first six points of the second half and turned a one-point deficit into a five-point Monmouth advantage, 42-37, with 17:39 to play. 

Back-to-back layups for Quinnipiac tied the game at 46-46 with 14:04 left on the clock. Monmouth responded with a 9-0 run and took a 55-46 lead with 10:57 to go in the game. Walker and Brooks Jr. each had a basket and an assist in that stretch. 

A pair of free throws from Brooks Jr. at 9:03 gave the Hawks a 57-50 lead. 

The Monmouth lead fluctuated between two and six points over the next several minutes. 

A lay-up from Nas Hart at 4:08 pulled Quinnipiac to within two, 64-62. 

Three-pointers from Walker and Brooks Jr. put the Hawks ahead 70-64 with just 1:43 to play. 

Quinnipiac scored six of the next eight points in the game and pulled to within two, 72-70 with 11 seconds to play. 

The Hawks brought the ball down and Spartalis slammed it home for a 74-70 lead with six seconds to play. 

On the other end, Quinnipiac missed a three-pointer and Walker grabbed the rebound to close out a 74-70 win.

The Hawks shot 39.4% from the field and were 16-for-19 from the foul line. Quinnipiac shot 42.6% from the field and were 15-for-19 from the foul line. The Hawks won the rebounding battle 34-33.

Spartalis paced the Hawks with his second straight double-double and fifth of his career. The sophomore forward had 20 points, one shy of his career-high and his 14 boards were a career-high. Spartalis' 14 rebounds were the most by a Hawk since Nikita Konstantynovskyi had 14 against Hampton during the 2023-24 season. 

Walker scored a season-high 14 points and added a season-high six rebounds. Brooks Jr. posted 13 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals with no turnovers while running the point for the Hawks. 

Hart led Quinnipiac with 10 points and 14 rebounds. 

The Hawks are back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 17 when they travel to Wake Forest for a 7 p.m. game. Monmouth will have the chance to face former Monmouth guard Justin Ray in that contest that will be broadcast on the ACC Network.

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