Photo courtesy Quinnipiac Athletics
By Morey Hershgordon
The streak is finally over. For the first time in more than six years, Monmouth University’s basketball team can say it beat Quinnipiac. In front of a sellout crowd in West Long Branch, methodically disposing a talented and deep Bobcats squad, the Hawks took down their conference foe 88-74 Saturday afternoon.
Here are three things learned from the game:
The Quinnipiac bench was better than the Monmouth bench
… In on-court production, that is. Head coach Tom Moore had no choice but to go to his bench early on when star guard Gio McLean picked up two personal fouls within the game’s first four minutes. Backcourt teammates Ayron Hutton and Dimitri Floras combined for 16 points to patch McLean’s absence. Big man Chaise Daniels, who returned for the first time since an MCL sprain on Dec. 4, came off the pine and contributed six points and five rebounds as well. While the 24-22 advantage doesn’t look too dominate, the Bobcats’ bench proved more impressive in the first half and after intermission before the outcome of the game had been determined.
Danny Harris continues to play well against MAAC competition
For a stretch of four games from Dec. 5 to Dec. 29, the junior college transfer failed to hit more than two three’s in a game. In the first three games of the season, Harris had two In the first nine minutes Saturday, Harris connected on four shots from deep. His 14 first half-points paced Quinnipiac early and kept his team in it. With McLean logging more time in the second half, Harris’ looks were limited. The Florida native finished with 19 points, six rebounds, and three assists. He is shooting 43 percent from deep in his first five career MAAC contests. He will continue to be an x-factor in conference games as his three point shooting stretches opposing defenses allowing forwards to work down low.
Intangibles aided Monmouth big time
For the second time in just three home games this year, Monmouth played in front of a 3,911 sellout crowd at the Multipurpose Activity Center. In fact, it was only the seventh sellout in the building’s history. That, along with a plethora of experience from King Rice’s squad slowly wore down a young, collectively-inexperienced Quinnipiac team. The experience on the road the Hawks have gained is just one Specifically, it was one player for Rice who stepped up to the occasion. Junior forward Chris Brady recorded his first career double-double finishing with 16 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks against one of the toughest frontcourt’s in the nation. His play down low helped anchor Monmouth to an eight point advantage in the paint.
Extras (and many of them):
- Quinnipiac freshman Abdulai Bundu registered his second double-double (12 points and 12 rebounds) in the last four games.
- Monmouth got to the line 50 times, making 38 foul shots. Quinnipiac was 17-for-25 from the charity stripe.
- Quinnipiac shot 27.3 percent (12-for-44) from the field in the second half.
- The Hawks held advantages in steals (+7), blocks (+3), and fast-break-points (+8).
- Both teams graduate a total of 3 players. They will continue to have great games in the near future.
- Quinnipiac drops to 5-9 overall and 2-3 in MAAC play. It returns home for two games, first against Siena on Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. and then against Canisius on Jan. 17 at 2 p.m.
- Monmouth improves to 11-4 and 3-1 in the MAAC. The Hawks travel to face Fairfield Monday night.
