Monmouth Basketball: Hawks Fall at Manhattan, 75-66

Monmouth vs. Manhattan (Monmouth Athletics)

Four Hawks scored in double-figures, including double-doubles from Deon Jones (Wilmington, Del./Sanford School/Towson) and Tyrone O'Garro (Newark, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep), but Monmouth University fell at Manhattan College, 75-66, in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action on Sunday afternoon, in Draddy Gymnasium.

Andrew Nicholas (Twitter)

Jones and O'Garro each recorded their first career double-doubles for the Hawks, posting 14 points and 10 rebounds, and 10 points and 11 boards, respectively. Max DiLeo (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson), who went 8-of-9 from the free throw line, added a career-high 14 points, while Andrew Nicholas (Wrightsville, Pa./Eastern York) chipped in 12 for the Hawks, who fall to 3-6 overall and 0-2 in the MAAC.

Monmouth, which lead by as many as eight points, 35-27, with 1:57 left in the first half, outrebounded Manhattan 45-39, connected on 34.6% (18-52) from the field, including seven three-pointers, and went 23-of-35 (65.7%) from the foul line.

"This was a tough one today," said Monmouth head coach King Rice. "You have to give Manhattan credit to continue to fight when we had them down. I am really proud of these kids, because they are continuing to get better. We just have to stick together so we can get over the hump."

After an O'Garro basket and Nicholas' three-pointer gave the Hawks a 46-42 edge with 15:55 showing, the Jaspers (6-2, 2-0 MAAC) used a 16-2 under over seven minutes of action to take a 58-48 lead, and extended the spurt to 28-8 to haul in a 70-54 cushion with 3:25 remaining.

After taking a 4-2 lead at 18:40 following Jones’ drive, the Jaspers went on a 15-2 run, capped by Emmy Andujar’s three-pointer, to grab a 17-6 lead at 12:38.

Monmouth, which did not allow a Manhattan field goal for 8:26 of game action, connected on three straight three-pointers, two from Nicholas around DiLeo’s trey, which gave the Hawks a 25-23 advantage with 6:32 left in the half.

Max DiLeo (Monmouth Athletics)

Manhattan knotted the score at 27-27 on Tyler Wilson’s drive with 4:12 showing, before an 8-0 MU spurt over 1:31 pushed the Hawks in front 35-27 with 1:57 remaining. After DiLeo’s second three-pointer of the half gave the Blue & White a 39-31 edge with seven ticks showing, a pair of Wilson foul shots with 0.8 seconds left, gave Monmouth a 39-33 lead at the intermission.

A 9-2 run to open the second half, capped by George Beamon's three-point play, gave the Jaspers a 42-41 lead with 16:50 showing, before O'Garro and Nicholas' consecutive baskets put the Blue & White in front by four at 15:55.

Wilson led Manhattan with 15 points to lead four Jaspers in double-figures, as Andujar added 13 and six rebounds, Beamon (7-for7 FTs) netted 11, and Rhamel Brown notched 10 points, eight rebounds and eight blocked shots.

Manhattan, which went 24-40 from the charity stripe, hit 42.6% (23-54) from the field, and tallied 34 points in the paint.

Monmouth returns to action on Tuesday, December 10 when the Hawks travel to St. Francis Brooklyn to face the Terriers at 7:00 p.m. in the Pope Center.