WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.  – Justin Ray's clutch three-pointer in the final minute helped the Monmouth men's basketball team secure a thrilling come-from-behind win over Towson on Saturday night, 72-71. With the victory, the Hawks complete the regular season sweep over the Tigers for the first time since joining the CAA in 2022.

Down by one with under a minute to play, Ray hit a three from the corner to give the Hawks (14-12, 8-5 CAA) a 72-71 edge. Monmouth then locked in defensively on the ensuing possession, keeping Towson off the board over the final 53 seconds.

The first half featured multiple lead changes. Towson built an early 10-point edge, but Monmouth responded late in the half to take a 33-31 lead at the break.

The second half remained tight, as Towson retook the lead and went ahead by as many as six in the final minutes. Monmouth answered every Towson push, using 11 three-pointers and 21 offensive rebounds to stay within striking distance. Down by two late, Kavion McClain hit a jumper from the elbow to tie it at 69-69, before Towson answered with a bucket on the ensuing possession.

Ray's heroics came on Monmouth's next trip down the court, hitting his third three of the night and scoring the final points of a dramatic 72-71 victory.

Notes

• Jason Rivera-Torres scored 10 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, earning his seventh double-double of the season. Rivera-Torres became the first Monmouth player with seven double-doubles in the team's first 26 games.
• Rivera-Torres' 13 rebounds set a new career-best and marked the seventh time this season he has grabbed at least 10 boards.
• Kavion McClain scored 17 points and has reached double figures in each of his three games this season. The senior has at least three connections from deep in all three of his appearances.
• After hitting a season-best 11 three-pointers against Drexel on Thursday, the Hawks went 11-28 from beyond-the-arc on Sunday.
• Stefanos Spartalis scored 10 points, reaching double figures for the 12th time of his freshman campaign.
• Rivera-Torres had five steals tonight, giving him 11 swipes over the last three games, the second time this season he has accomplished that feat. He is the only player in the CAA with at least 11 steals in a three-game span this season.
• Rivera-Torres is just the second player in Division I basketball with at least 10 points, 13 rebounds and five steals in a game, joining Arkansas-Pine Bluff's Quion Williams.
• Andrew Ball had a 10-point outing off the bench, scoring at least 10 for the eighth time in conference play.
• With the victory, Monmouth earns its first regular-season sweep over Towson since joining the CAA prior to the 2022-23 season.
• Five Monmouth players scored at least 10 points, the second time this season at least five Hawks reached double figures (Jan. 24 at Campbell)
• The Hawks had 21 offensive rebounds, their most in a game this season.
• Monmouth is now on a three-game win streak for the first time this season.

Up Next

• Monmouth heads south this week to face first-place UNCW on Thursday. Tipoff from Trask Coliseum in Wilmington, N.C., is set for 7 p.m. on FloSports.