Monmouth basketball falls to Hofstra, 86-57: Here are 5 takeaways as winning streak ends

WEST LONG BRANCH – After a recent run of success lifted resurgent Monmouth from the Colonial Athletic Association basement, Hofstra made clear just how tough the Hawks’ climb to the top will be in their new league.

Racing out to a quick 28-6 lead, the CAA co-leaders delivered a reality check with an 86-57 win at Ocean First Bank Center Saturday, ending Monmouth’s winning streak at four.

It was Monmouth’s (5-21, 4-9 CAA) seventh straight loss to Hofstra (19-8, 12-2), as the Pride led by as many as 32 points in the second half in sweeping the first season series between the two, having won by 20 points in Hempstead, New York on Jan. 11.

“A big-time game on the schedule and Monmouth didn’t come with a big-time effort,” Monmouth coach King Rice said. “I’m not mad, I’m disappointed. I through we were past this.

“There was a hype to this game maybe the hype to game made our guys be little boys today, but we just didn’t come. We have been competing, playing super hard. I feel like we have been playing harder than the other teams. That’s why we started having a little bit of success.”

Reigning CAA Player of the Year Aaron Estrada did it all for Hofstra, scoring 13 points, dishing out seven assists and grabbing six rebounds. Tyler Thomas, who drained five 3-pointers, led the way with 23 points, while Darlinstone Dubar added 14.

"(Estrada's going to be) a pro basketball player – he just picks you apart. He’s been good for a long time," said Rice, with Estrada having tormented Monmouth since he was the MAAC Rookie of the Year for Saint Peter's back in 2019-20.

Monmouth was led by freshman guard Andrew Ball, who came off the bench and hit three triples, finishing with 11 points. Junior forward Klemen Vuga chipped in with 10 points.

Hofstra took control immediately with a game-opening 10-0 run, which it followed up with a 16-0 run that opened up a 22-point lead. Monmouth, without a 3-pointer in Wednesday’s win over Stony Brook, finally broke the ice when freshman guard Andrew Ball came off the bench and drained back-to-back triples to cut Hofstra’s lead to 28-12.

The lead was up to 23 points when Ball closed the half with a dunk, as Monmouth trailed 37-16 at halftime. The lead stretched to 32 points several times in the second half.

Here are five takeaways from Monmouth's one-sided loss:

1. Shooting woes

Monmouth struggled badly from the field, going 6-of-35 (17 percent) from the floor, shooing 31 percent for the game. Hofstra’s defense was suffocating at points, as Monmouth struggled to get good looks, while turning the ball over nine times. The lack of flow was reminiscent of the Hawks' offensive struggles during much of their 1-20 start.

2. Defense struggles

Hofstra has so many offensive weapons beyond Estrada. And as Monmouth fell behind and had to use a trapping, pressure defense to try to come back, it led to a series of open shots from the perimeter that the Pride buried. For the game, Hofstra hit 13 triples and was over 50 percent from the floor.

3. Slightly better second half

While the lead did swell to 32 at one point, and Monmouth got outscored by a 49-41 margin. But they were much more competitive over the final 20 minutes, after simply being unable to handle what Hofstra threw at them early, never able to get their footing.

4. Problems in paint

Monmouth had played much better in recent games inside, with Vuga and junior forward Myles Foster putting up some good numbers. But 6-9 Warren Williams and 6-8 Dubar were in control throughout, finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds between them. And Hofstra was able to hold Foster, Monmouth’s leading scorer, in check, limiting him to two points and six rebounds.

Hofstra finished with a 43-33 edge in rebounding, and outscored Monmouth 34-24 in the paint.

5. Quick regroup

There’s no time to dwell on this one, with Monmouth hosting North Carolina A&T Monday (7 p.m.). The Aggies, in the top half of the CAA standings, will be looking to pay Monmouth back for what was the Hawks’ first CAA win back on Jan. 28 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

“They’re going to see this (Sunday),” Rice said. “Tomorrow, we’re watching this one right from the beginning and I am going to show them over and over and over how they just bullied us, and we didn’t compete to try and stop it, and that gives you no chance.”

Pregame

Can Monmouth basketball pull off stunner vs. Hofstra? 5 keys as Hawks look for fifth straight win

WEST LONG BRANCH – Will the Monmouth revenge tour continue Saturday?

Over the past week, the Hawks have turned the tables on Drexel, which whacked them by 32 points in January, and Stony Brook, which had an 11-point win on its resume.

But a fifth straight win for the Hawks will require a monumental upset at Ocean First Bank Center this afternoon.

Next up is Hofstra, which topped Monmouth by 20 back on Jan. 11. The Pride (18-8, 11-2) are tied with Charleston atop the Colonial Athletic Association standings, have a NET of 92 (Monmouth is 349) and have beaten Monmouth six straight times.

So as Monmouth (5-20, 4-8) looks to continue its rise from a 1-20 start, it has an opportunity take its comeback to the next level against a top-level mid-major program.

Tipoff is set for 2 p.m., with game broadcast on SportsNet New York, and streamed on FloSports.

Here are five keys for the Hawks as they look to build on their recent run of success:

1. Allen rising

During Monmouth’s four-game winning streak, sophomore guard Tahron Allen has taken his game to another level, averaging 19 points and 5.7 rebounds, while hitting 31-of-61 shots from the floor. The 6-4 Allen has been able to finish in the lane and hit mid-range shots, while stepping up his defensive intensity, including six steals at Stony Brook Wednesday.

2. Make a few 3s

It’s almost unheard of in an age when most teams rely on the 3-point shot. But Monmouth actually won Wednesday’s road test at Stony Brook without hitting a shot from the perimeter, missing all nine of its attempts from beyond the arc, while the Seawolves connected on 10.

More:'He always believed': Monmouth basketball walk-on from Toms River keys Hawks’ sudden rise

Hofstra is No. 2 in 3-point percentage in the CAA, and No. 3 in 3-point defense. Monmouth has hit some shots from the perimeter, and defend tenaciously at the arc.

3. Contain Estrada

Hofstra has a lot of weapons, but none more dangerous than reigning CAA Player of the Year Aaron Estrada, who leads the league in scoring at 21.2 ppg. Estrada has scored as many as 40 points this season, and keeping him at or below his average will be critical.

4. Win inside

The interior play from junior forwards Myles Foster and Klemen Vuga has been a key to the resurgence, and the Monmouth duo will have its hands full against a frontcourt led by 6-9 Warren Williams, who had 18 points and seven rebounds in the first meeting.

5. Hit freebies

While the Hawks made some key late free throws, they were pretty bad at the line for most of the Stony Brook game, hitting just 13-of-21 attempts. Monmouth is the worst free throw shooting team in the CAA. But if it’s a close game, making the freebies will be the key.

Check back later Saturday afternoon for analysis of the Monmouth-Hofstra game

From Wednesday

Red-hot Monmouth basketball beats Stony Brook, 61-54, as Hawks win fourth straight

Monmouth’s stunning resurgence continued to gain momentum Wednesday night on Long Island.

After reversing a 32-point loss to Drexel with Saturday’s win, Monmouth paid Stony Brook back for a double-digit win in West Long Branch a month ago, rolling to a 61-54 victory at Island Federal Arena in Stony Brook, New York.

Monmouth (5-20, 4-8) has now won four straight after starting the season 1-20, while Stony Brook (8-17, 4-8) has lost seven of its last eight games.

It sets up an intriguing home clash Saturday when CAA co-leader Hofstra comes to OceanFirst Bank Center, with the Pride having beaten Monmouth by 20 earlier this season.

“We’re coming,” Monmouth coach King Rice said in a post-game radio interview. “That’s the part. Everybody is not still getting better in February, but Monmouth basketball is getting better in February.

“These guys we’ve been getting beat up, everybody, everybody, everybody. Now these kids are having some success, their heads are up, they’re smiling. College is supposed to be fun, and maybe I put too much pressure on them. But this is supposed to be fun and I’m just glad these guys are getting to experience the fun side.”

Monmouth saw an 11-point second-half lead whittled down to a point in the final minutes. But junior guard Tahron Allen, who finished with 22 points, scored six straight for the Hawks at one point to give them a 55-50 lead with under two minutes to play. After Stony Brook got a triple from Kaine Roberts with 1:18 left to make it a two-point game, Monmouth got a free throw from forward Klemen Vuga and two from guard Myles Ruth to make it a two-possession game with 31 seconds to play.

An Allen free throw with 26 seconds left made it a six-point game, guard Jack Collins fouled Roberts on a 3-pointer with 17.8 seconds left, but Roberts only made one. Allen eventually put the game away at the line.

Defensive stand

Monmouth once again relied on its much-improved defense, holding Stony Brook to 31 percent shooting, while forcing 19 turnovers.  Junior forward Myles Foster just missed a double-double, scoring 15 points and grabbing nine rebounds, while Allen had six steals.

"Our defense, our traps, the way we were flying around for most of that game was unbelievable," Rice said.

"Sometimes things are going to be bumpy, but that’s the world we live in. It’s college athletics. But now all of the sudden you get four-in-a-row and maybe we won’t see our name at the bottom here much longer."

While the Hawks did not hit a 3-pointer all game and Stony Brook connected on 10, they dominated inside, holding a 36-6 advantage on points in the paint.

Leading 39-34, Allen came through with a steal and score, before a Jakari Spence steal led to an Allen layup 17 seconds later to give Monmouth a 43-34.

And after building an 11-point lead on a Foster jumper, it was Stony Brook that roared back from the perimeter. Sharpshooter Frankie Policelli, who had been on the bench with four fouls, sank a 3-pointer from the corner, before Tyler Stephenson-Moore, who missed the last three games with an injury, drained another from the corner to cut Monmouth’s lead to 45-40. Stephenson-Moore finished with 17 points to lead the Seawolves.

But Collins made a steal that led to a goaltending call at the other end, before Spence fired a long pass to Foster for a layup in transition to push the lead back to nine points with 6:30 remaining.

Then Stephenson-Moore hit back-to-back triples, before a Polichelli steal and scored cut Monmouth’s lead to 49-47, with coach King Rice calling a timeout with 3:47 to play, as the Hawks struggled offensively against the Stony Brook zone.

Emotional night

Rice’s son Xander, a senior guard at Bucknell, went over the 1,000-point mark for his career Wednesday night in the Bisons’ loss at Navy.

“I’m almost crying,” King Rice said. “Because how he’s been through things, and the Covid year and all that stuff, for him to get 1,000 points, over 300 assists and 200 rebounds, I am a super proud, proud dad.”

Pregame

Can Monmouth basketball stay hot? Five keys vs. Stony Brook, as Hawks seek fourth straight

Monmouth has another chance to change the narrative when it takes the court against Stony Brook Wednesday night (6:30 p.m.; FloSports) at Island Federal Arena in Stony Brook, New York.

The Hawks’ 69-67 win over Drexel, which beat them by 32 points a month earlier, was the most dramatic example of their recent turnaround. Now they look to win a fourth straight against a Stony Brook team that scored a 67-56 win in West Long Branch on Jan. 5, part of a 1-20 start.

In addition to Drexel, Monmouth (4-20, 3-8 CAA) has knocked off Delaware and North Carolina A&T over the past two weeks, and trails Stony Brook (8-16, 4-7) by a game at the bottom of the Colonial Athletic Association standings.

Here are five keys as Monmouth heads to Long Island looking to stay hot. And check back later Wednesday night for analysis of the Monmouth-Stony Brook game:

1. Keep grinding inside

Myles Foster and Klemen Vuga have grown into a force in the paint, combining to average 23.3 points and 13.3 rebounds during the winning streak. Vuga is having the best stretch of his career, with the 6-9 junior averaging 10.3 points and 7.5 rebounds over the last three games.

2. Limit mistakes

The win over Drexel, coming off a win over CAA-leader Charleston, was a blueprint for how Monmouth needs to play. The five turnovers was their lowest total in three years, and a remarkable total for what had been a turnover-prone team. When teams get transition points after mistakes it changes the course of games.

3. Defend

The defensive intensity, particularly on the perimeter, has been the catalyst for Monmouth. And now, as the offense finds its footing - Monmouth is averaging 72.6 points over the last three games – the Hawks are finally playing complimentary basketball.

4. Build momentum

If Monmouth can pull off a road win against Stony Brook, it would set up a Saturday afternoon showdown with Hofstra, currently tied with Charleston, at Ocean First Bank Center. It would serve as the ultimate measuring stick, with Hofstra having won six straight against the Hawks.

5. Win matchups

The Seahawks have gotten solid play from freshman guard Toby Onyekonwu, who has started the last three games since an injury to Tyler Stephenson-Moore, who scored 15 points and pulled down eight rebounds against Monmouth last month. Onyekonwu comes off a career-high 15-point performance against Hofstra.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Monmouth NJ basketball falls to Hofstra, 86-57