Monmouth Falls Short at Maryland 61-56

COLLEGE PARK, MD. – Monmouth, which trailed by 16 points in the first half, rallied from 10 points down late in the second half, but Deon Jones’ (Wilmington, Del./Sanford School) game-tying three-pointer rattled out with 10 seconds left, as the Maryland Terrapins barely held on at home in the XFINITY Center for a 61-56 win over the Hawks on Friday night.

Deon Jones on the court vs. Maryland (Monmouth Athletics)

Monmouth, which trailed 50-40 with 4:51 remaining, got within 55-54 on Max DiLeo’s (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson) three-pointer with 37.4 ticks showing and trailed 57-56 with 20.4 seconds on the board on a Jones’ floater in the lane. After Maryland’s Melo Trimble hit a pair of free throws to put the Terrapins in front 59-56 with 17.1 left, Jones’ game-tying three rattled away and Monmouth was forced to foul, which led to the 61-56 final.

“I was very proud of my kids tonight in their effort and how hard they continued to fight,” said head coach King Rice. “I thought we really played well, and the part that I like the most was that we battled them on the boards. I think this team is growing and we have to continue to get better every day, and great things are in the near future.”

Jones and DiLeo led Monmouth with 11 points each, while Justin Robinson (Lake Katrine, N.Y./Kingston) added nine points, five rebounds and four assists, Zac Tillman (Yeadon, Pa./Shipley School) notched eight points and Brice Kofane (Yaounde, Cameroon/Miller School/Providence) tallied six points, five rebounds and four blocks.

Robinson’s three-pointer tied the game at 3-3, but after a pair of Tillman free throws pulled Monmouth even at 5-5, the Terrapins used a 6-0 spurt to grab an 11-5 lead with 14:45 showing. Jones’ three-pointer got MU within 11-8 just 22 seconds later, but Maryland answered with an 8-0 run to go in front 19-8 with 12:46 left.

Monmouth's Zac Tillman (Monmouth Athletics)

Jones and Tillman combined for a pair of baskets to get Monmouth within 19-12 with 10:22 remaining, but Maryland responded with an 11-2 streak over 6:53 of action, to claim a 30-14 advantage with 2:02 on the clock. Paced by trifectas from Andrew Nicholas (Wrightsville, Pa./Eastern York) and DiLeo’s trey as time expired, the Hawks clawed within 32-22 at the intermission.

Out of the break, Monmouth climbed within 36-30 on Jones’ fast break lay-up and trailed 39-36 on a DiLeo free throw with 10:11 showing, before an 8-2 spurt by the Terrapins gave Maryland a 50-40 advantage with 4:51 left.

Monmouth, which trailed by seven, 53-46 with 2:54 on the clock, used a Kofane offensive rebound and lay-in and a Nicholas three-pointer to get within 53-51 with 48.2 ticks remaining.

Monmouth, which shot 37.0% (17-of-46) from the floor, held Maryland to 37.8% (17-of-45), while the Terrapins held a slight 31-28 edge in rebounds. Maryland (6-0) went 21-for-26 from the foul line, while the Hawks connected on 16-of-20 from the stripe.

Rice added, "When you are at Maryland and have the ball and are down three, then a lot of things went right. For us to be in that position, I am not going to sit here and pretend like that happens here all the time. Our team is getting better."

Monmouth returns to action on Sunday, November 30 when the Hawks travel to Southern Methodist University for a 7:00 p.m. [ET] game in Moody Coliseum.