Monmouth basketball falters late: 5 takeaways from 80-76 loss to Lehigh, as Hawks remain winless
There were a lot more of those tantalizing stretches where Monmouth shows what’s possible. But as has been the case throughout the early season, it only served to make the final outcome that much more agonizing.
For the seventh time in as many games, the young Hawks were unable to do enough to get a victory. This time it was Lehigh pulling away in the final minutes for an 80-76 win at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Sunday night.
For what it's worth, it was Monmouth’s best effort of the season, with the game tied with two minutes to play on a basket by Tahron Allen. But it was an Allen turnover with 22 seconds to play that resulted in Tyler Whitney-Sidney sinking a pair of free throws to give Lehigh a 77-72 lead.
While a Jack Collins three-pointer pulled Monmouth within 77-75 with 8.7 seconds left, the Mountain Hawks put the game away at the free throw line.
Monmouth (0-7, 0-0 CAA) once again hurt its chances with poor free throw shooting, missing 12 of 23 attempts. Lehigh (4-2, 0-0 Patriot) hit 21-of-25 from the line in winning its fourth straight.
“That was our best 40 minutes of the year," Monmouth coach King Rice said. "Our kids are playing extremely hard, we just weren’t able to get it all the way finished tonight. We had a lot of chances, we have to shoot free throws better and I don’t like losing but we played a lot better tonight. We looked like a team that has a chance to get better and that’s all I’m focusing on right now.”
Myles Foster led the way for Monmouth with 21 points, with the 6-7 junior forward grabbing five rebounds. Collins, a freshman guard from Manasquan, backed up his career-high 17-point performance three nights earlier in a loss to Cornell by scoring 16 points, while grabbing five rebounds and making four steals.
“I’m happy that Myles [Foster] played like himself," Rice said. "We slowed down, we took care of the ball better and it gave us a chance at the end. They made a couple more plays than us down the stretch and we fell a little bit short but overall we played a lot better and we’ll continue to get better.”
In the end it was too much Evan Taylor, with the Lehigh guard finishing with 25 points, including five three-pointers. Keith Higgins (14 points), Whitney-Sidney (13) and Jalin Sinclair (12) all scored in double figures for the Lehigh.
Monmouth returns to action Wednesday when it makes the trip to Lawrenceville to face Rider.
Staying close late
Allen, a sophomore guard who finished with 12 points, scored eight straight points to keep Monmouth in it in the final minutes, pulling them within 73-72 with 1:12 to play.
Taylor drained a three-pointer to put his team up 68-64 with four minutes to play, after Monmouth had taken a 61-60 lead on an Amaan Sandhu free throw with 5:46 to play
Lehigh came out with a 9-3 run to open the second half, after going down 56-48, Monmouth went on a 9-0 run to take the lead on a Foster free throw with 8:46 remaining. It was the latest Monmouth has led in a game this season.
Solid start
Collins led the early charge in every way. He dove on the floor for a loose ball and went over the table trying to get another in the first few minutes, before getting fouled after an offensive rebound. His three-pointer from the side drew Monmouth within 18-16, igniting an 11-0 run that put Monmouth on top, 24-18, on Andrew Ball’s dunk.
But Lehigh continued to grind away, going on a 7-0 run to tie the game at 31-all, eventually converting a turnover into a fastbreak score in the final minute to take a 39-38 halftime lead.
Here are five takeaways from Monmouth’s latest setback:
1. Getting better
This was as close to a full game as Monmouth has played this year, showing good intensity throughout. The offensive flow was much better, with eight players scoring, including four in double figures. And while the difference was poor free throw shooting, the endgame should serve as a good learning experience for this team.
2. Collins continues to shine
Collins was Monmouth’s most dynamic player at both ends of the court. He ended up hitting 5-of-11 from the floor, including four of Monmouth’s five three-pointers. But that only tells part of the story. His steal with just under three minutes to play, for example, led to an Allen basket in the lane that tied the game at 68-all. His intangibles have been as important as his point production.
3. Too many triples
After giving up 14 three-pointers in each of the last two games, Lehigh’s 11 triples was a step in the right direction. But the Mountain Hawks hit those 11 in just 21 attempts, as the Hawks continue to surrender baskets from beyond the arc at an alarming rate.
4. Foul trouble hurt
Monmouth’s 7-1 freshman center Amaan Sandhu picked up two fouls in the game’s first minute and it completely threw the front court rotation into chaos, hurting the Hawks all evening. Sandhu, a starter, ended up playing just six minutes, finishing with one point and two rebounds.
While 6-9 junior Klem Vuga did a good job battling in the paint, finishing with 10 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists, it was Lehigh that held a 37-29 edge on the glass, and a 15-10 advantage in second chance points.
5. The beat goes on
For all the promising signs, Monmouth has now lost eight straight dating back to last season, which is tied for the third longest skid in the country right now. It has a chance to get in the win column over the next week with games at Rider and Manhattan, but the Hawks will have to continue to improve.
Pregame
Monmouth basketball: 5 keys vs. Lehigh as Hawks seek first win
Monmouth heads into Sunday night’s game at Lehigh (7 p.m.; ESPN+) as one of seven teams among the NCAA’s 352 Division I programs still looking for a win, having dropped its first six. And seven straight losses dating back to last season’s MAAC Tournament title game is tied for the fourth longest losing streak in the country.
It's the dominant storyline until the Hawks break through.
A host of factors, including a really tough non-conference schedules and an inexperienced roster, have put this team in a tough position, with NCAA statistics highlighting just how tight the spot is.
Monmouth ranks 349th in scoring offense (57.8 ppg), 344th in scoring defense (83.5 ppg.) and is next-to-last in scoring margin (-27 points). And the Hawks are 349th in assist/turnover ratio, 348th in three-point defense, 344th in field goal percentage and 342 in field goal percentage defense.
For Monmouth to leave the winless ranks it’s going to have to start significantly outperforming its statistical profile.
Lehigh, which has won three straight after back-to-back losses to high-major opponents, comes in off wins over Marist and St. Francis (Pa.).
The Mountain Hawks starting backcourt of seniors Evan Taylor and Tyler Whitney-Sidney, and sophomore Keith Higgins Jr., combine to score 34.8 points, grab 13 rebounds and dish 5.6 assists on average. It looms as a difficult matchup for Monmouth’s guards.
Here are five keys for Monmouth as it looks to get into the win column:
1. Forty minutes of intensity
Monmouth coach King Rice’s No. 1 message coming out of Friday’s 18-point loss to Cornell was his team didn’t play hard enough, which is the only thing they can control.
It’s been a tough season already, and lopsided losses, of which Monmouth’s had five, can take their toll. But if the Hawks aren’t flying around the court for 40 minutes they have no chance in any game.
2. Pull your weight
Of Monmouth’s 10 healthy players, six combined to score just four points, while turning the ball over 12 times against Cornell, with that group averaging 17 minutes. Everyone has to find a way to contribute something within the flow of the offense.
3. Stop turning it over
After the Cornell game, Rice said that the top priority since the preseason has been taking care of the ball. But that message has fallen on deaf ears, with Monmouth last in the country at 20.5 turnovers-per-game after a 23-turnover performance against Cornell.
Can Rice and his staff get their message through? Getting a win will depend on it.
4. Stay composure
Monmouth looked shaky at best when Cornell turned up the defensive pressure by extending a trapping zone beginning late in the first half. Expect to see more of that as opponents seek to capitalize on the turnover-prone Hawks’ inexperience.
5. Defend perimeter
Monmouth’s given up 14 three-pointers in each of its last two games, with Cornell shooting 51.7 percent from the floor. The ability to get a hand in the face of shooters is critical. Monmouth’s done a fairly good job defending in the paint. The perimeter has been a different story.
Check back here Sunday night for more on the Monmouth-Lehigh game.
Last game
Monmouth basketball falls to Cornell, 81-63; plus 5 telling quotes from King Rice
WEST LONG BRANCH –The best gift of all for Monmouth on Black Friday would have been a win.
Instead, it was Cornell with a post-Thanksgiving celebration at OceanFirst Bank Center, as Monmouth got the short end of a 81-63 decision for its sixth straight loss to open the season, and fifth by 18 points or more.
And so continues what has been a perfect storm, with a brutal non-conference schedule that includes three high-major losses, an inexperienced roster that lost 85 percent of its scoring and the inability to recruit scoring and leadership via the NCAA transfer portal having left the Hawks struggling to survive early on.
“I could’ve made the team differently and I decided to stay with the kids that I have in my program and we are going to continue to help them get better,” Monmouth coach King Rice said. “There’s going to be some bumpy nights because I always schedule hard and I did it again this year and I will schedule harder next year. So we’ll get through this but we’ve never had a group this young.”
Except this wasn’t a high-major foe that built a 30-point second-half lead, and was the first team Monmouth’s played that wasn’t in the NCAA Tournament last season.
There were recurring themes, as Monmouth turned the ball over 23 times, resulting in 30 Cornell points, while the Big Red pounded the Hawks from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 14 triples, and shooting 51.7 percent from the floor.
The new twist, however, was Rice's displeasure with his team's effort.
“The thing we can do is play harder than people and right now we don’t understand that so that is my fault,” he said.
"I truly do apologize to the fans because you do pay good hard-earned money to come watch our club play. We have these great fans here at Monmouth, we let them down today. And like I said, it’s not the kids. I let the Monmouth fans down by the way our team performed today."
Monmouth’s next chance to snap a seven-game skid dating back to last year’s MAAC Tournament championship game comes Sunday night (7 p.m.) when they face Lehigh in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Hawks started the 2018-19 season 0-12.
Fast start fizzles
After Monmouth jumped out to an 18-9 lead, Cornell went on a 30-9 run to end the first half, grabbing a 39-27 halftime lead.
The game started to slip away quickly in the second half. A Myles Ruth turnover led to a Manon score at the other end, with Manon drawing a foul on Ruth and finishing the 3-point play to put Cornell up 56-34 with 14 minutes to play, with the lead eventually stretching to 30 points.
Monmouth finished with four players in double figures, with freshman guard Jack Collins leading the way with a career-high 17 points, while junior center Klem Vuga added 15 points along with sophomore guard Tahron Allen. Junior forward Myles Foster had 12 points and eight rebounds.
Cornell had four players in double-figures as well, led by Keller Boothby and Chris Manon with 12 points apiece.
For the second straight game Rice went with a new lineup. This time it was redshirt freshman guard Jayden Doyle making the first start of his career, and junior guard Jack Holmstrom making his second start, replacing Allen and Collins.
But it was Collins who came off the bench and promptly drained a 3-pointer from the side to pull Monmouth within 8-7 at the first media timeout, before his drive gave Monmouth its first lead of the game.
After Monmouth built an 18-9 lead on a Vuga score inside off a nifty interior feed by Foster, the Hawks fell apart. After a Dolan 3-pointer, freshman center Amaan Sandhu turned it over on two straight possessions, before a Foster turnover led to a third straight basket as Cornell came all the way back to tie the game at 18-all.
Here are five telling quotes from Rice's postgame press conference:
On alluding to off-court issues holding the team back:
“We’re trying to teach these kids this: It’s every part of your life,” Rice said. “So if you’re skipping school, you’re not going to be the best player you can be. If you are late to class, you’re not going to be the best player you can be. If you miss an appointment with the trainer, you are not going to be the best player you can be.
“You have to live your whole life in a way that you are striving for excellence, and if you strive for excellence every walk of your life then you will be a good college basketball player.”
On leaders struggling to emerge within the locker room:
“Normal years, now you’re a junior, it’s your turn, you’re ready to step into a leadership role and maybe I stunted their growth last year by not playing them more,” Rice said. “But you have to be the hardest playing team. I don’t care if you are seniors, juniors, whatever year you are, and we are not that right now. So it’s all on me.
On his young players:
“When Walker (Miller) and Sharvar (Reynolds) and George (Papas) and Marcus (McClary) and Chap (Sam Chaput) and Nikkei (Rutty) were carrying the weight,” Rice said, “and we were sitting there saying ‘I’m better than them, I’m better than him, coach don’t like me,’ and now it’s your turn and you can’t hide behind anything and you have to go out and show everyone who you are now. And let us help you.
“We don’t have to be out there the way we’re out there right now. But guys have to be willing to play to our strengths and right now we’re not sure what are strengths are as individuals so we have some more coaching to do.”
On if reinforcements are coming:
Rice indicated that redshirt junior forward Jarvis Vaughan is still a few weeks away from returning after surgery, but is walking without crutches. Monmouth misses the athletic 6-9 forward’s presence.
Sophomore point guard Sam Fagan has not been with the team for the past month, and it’s unclear if or when he will return.
“Sam is dealing with some things. We’re not sure (if he’ll return), we’re hopeful he can be OK,” Rice said. “Right now he is dealing with some stuff and we’ll let everyone know once it’s all situated.”
On some of the bright spots from the game:
“Jack Colins is a stud. Jakari Spence, thank the lord we have him. He’s a walk-on that’s playing more than the starter.”
Pregame
Monmouth basketball: Will scorers, leaders emerge? 5 keys vs. Cornell in Black Friday clash
WEST LONG BRANCH - How tough has Monmouth’s schedule been?
Using the college basketball analytics website KenPom.com as a guide, four of the Hawks' first five opponents were ranked in the top 100 - Virginia (5), Illinois (23), Seton Hall (35) and Colgate (90) – and resulted in lopsided losses. While Norfolk State (180) was competitive, falling 64-59 in last week's home opener.
Monmouth, which checks in at No. 287 among 363 Division I teams, opens a stretch of games where it should have a chance to get its first win, beginning Black Friday at OceanFirst Bank Center (2 p.m.; FloSports) with a visit by Cornell, ranked 202.
After that, Monmouth has road games against Lehigh (272), Rider (232) and Manhattan (295), before the non-conference slate gets tougher again with Princeton (136), Syracuse (62), Charlotte (161) and Yale (105).
The Hawks have dropped six straight dating back to last season’s loss to Saint Peter’s in the MAAC Tournament championship game.
Cornell (4-1) opened the season with a 79-77 loss at Boston College, and comes in off a 79-70 win over Monmouth’s former MAAC rival Canisius, with the Griffins having knocked off St. Bonaventure on Nov. 12.
The Big Red are averaging 86.6 points, which includes two games against Division 3 teams. But in addition to Boston College and Canisius, they scored 80 against St. Francis (Pa.). And the Hawks’ 66 points in a 19-point loss at Colgate Monday was their highest output of the season.
Guard Greg Dolan, a 6-3 senior, is averaging 14.0 points and 5.6 rebounds, and leads the team with 23 assists. He’s joined in the backcourt by Nazir Williams (10.6 ppg., 3.4 rpg), a 6-3 sophomore, and Isaiah Gray (9.0 ppg., 2.8 rpg.), a 6-3 junior.
Guard Chris Manon and forward Guy Ragland Jr. are combining for 17.4 points off the bench for a team that lost three of its top four scorers after going 15-11 last season.
So what does Monmouth have to do to break through? Here are five keys for the Hawks in their post-Thanksgiving clash. And check back right here later Friday afternoon for complete coverage and analysis:
1. Scorers wanted
The level of competition has been a factor. But now it’s time for some scorers to emerge within the guard rotation.
The best of the group so far has been freshman Jack Collins. Now the Hawks need their two other starters, point guard Myles Ruth and Tahron Allen, to step up. Allen, a sophomore who played meaningful minutes last season, was a big-time scorer in high school. But so far he’s averaging just 5.4 points, sixth best on the team.
Between the three, they’re averaging 19 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists and seven turnovers. Everything needs to go up except the turnovers.
2. Make the freebies
There was a time early last season when Monmouth was No. 1 in the country in free throw percentage. After five games, the Hawks rank 332nd, hitting just 60.4 percent from the charity stripe.
Yes, Monmouth’s inexperienced. And yes, the schedule’s been brutal. But that’s no excuse for not making free throws. As this team is trying to forge its identity, it can’t be a poor free throw shooting team on top of its other limitations.
3. Learn to win
Only once in five games has this team been within striking distance at the end, and they couldn’t close the deal against an experienced Norfolk State team. Now the Hawks have a chance to get themselves back into meaningful end-game situations and figure out how to make plays in critical spots.
You have to be in pressure situations in the final minutes to learn how to win games. The next 10 days will be a critical period in that process.
4. Leaders must emerge
This is a moment for leaders to emerge within the locker room.
It’s the day after Thanksgiving. People are traveling or entertaining or shopping. Students have gone home for the holiday. And the U.S. men’s soccer team is playing England in the World Cup at the same time.
You get the picture. Who knows how many people are going to show up to see this game. So Monmouth will have to generate its own intensity, and carry it through 40 minutes.
5. More Myles Foster
Consider the talented front courts Monmouth has gone against over the past two weeks. Then consider that Myles Foster is averaging 11.0 points and 7.2 rebounds. The 6-7 junior has really battled in the paint. He’s shooting 45 percent from the floor.
But his Achilles’ heel is free throw shooting, having hit just 9-of-23 from the line, or 39 percent. And his 0-for-6 from the stripe versus Norfolk State hurt during a close game.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Monmouth NJ basketball falls to Lehigh, 80-76, as Hawks falter late
