Monmouth’s men’s basketball team (23-6, 15-3 MAAC) knocked down 18-of-18 free throws in overtime and beat Saint Peter’s Sunday afternoon, 82-75 at the Yanitelli Center in Jersey City, NJ. Micah Seaborn (Fort Worth, TX/Prime Prep Academy) led MU with a career-high 22 as the Hawks clinched a top-two seed in the upcoming MAAC Tournament.

Listen to the game broadcast at the end of this report

“As a group, our guys really came together and got defensive stops,” said head coach King Rice. “Micah Seaborn got hot, Justin Robinson knocked down all his free throws and they picked me up.”

MU took an immediate lead in overtime, getting a pair of foul shots from Je’lon Hornbeak (Arlington, TX/Grace Prep [Oklahoma]) 25 seconds in. 34 seconds later, Justin Robinson (Lake Katrine, NY/Kingston) knocked in his first two of a perfect 10-for-10 free throws in overtime. Chazz Patterson answered with a triple to trim the Monmouth lead to one, and Quadir Welton scored to put the Peacocks up one. Robinson would then convert six straight free throws and give Monmouth a 74-69 lead into the final minute, when Josh James (Greenburgh, NY/Archbishop Stepinac) stole a cross-court feed and hit both of his from the stripe. All told, MU was 18-for-18 from the line in overtime and hit six more in the final 26 seconds to secure the win.

With the game tied at 57 with 3:21 to go, Robinson pulled up and knocked down an elbow jumper to put Monmouth in front. SPU went back up when Trevis Wyche immediately answered with a three and Patterson scored as well, making it 62-59 Saint Peter’s. The Hawks missed their next shot, and on SPU’s ensuing inbounds feed, Hornbeak deflected it and James tipped it to Robinson, who netted a game-tying triple with 1:05 remaining. Antwon Portley and Robinson traded foul shots in the final minute, and Portley’s last-second three-point attempt was off the mark thanks to strong defense from James.

MU trailed by as many as six in the second half, rallying to tie the game at 50 on Seaborn’s trey with 7:12 to go. Portley hit from deep to put the Peacocks up, and with MU down one, Austin Tilghman (Wilmington, DE/Archbishop Carroll [PA]) drove and hit, drawing contact and converting a three-point play to put MU up two at 4:46.

Out of the half, SPU took a six-point lead on Portley free throws at 16:30. Monmouth responded when Collin Stewart (Glenville, NY/Mekeel Christian Academy) hung and hit, plus the foul. From that point on, neither team led by more than four until overtime.

James’ layup as time expired in the first half tied the game at 28 heading to the locker room. MU took a 15-6 lead with four consecutive three-point possessions. Robinson, Seaborn and Hornbeak all hit from downtown and Seaborn converted a three-point play on a drive through the center of the lane. The nine-point lead was Monmouth’s largest, and SPU led by four at 3:38 before a 5-1 MU run tied it at the break.

Seaborn netted a career-high with 26 points on 8-17 shooting, while Robinson added 22 and was a perfect 12-of-12 from the line. Hornbeak had eight points and led MU with six rebounds, as the Hawks shot 43.4% and 85.3% from the line.

Portley scored 27 and Wyche hit for 24 for the Peacocks, while Patterson added 10. Elisha Boone led the way on the glass with nine boards as Saint Peter’s shot 45.5% and 42.9% from deep.

The Hawks return to action Friday night for a 9:00 p.m. tip against Rider at The MAC. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

More From Shore Sports Network