Box Score
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University men's basketball team recorded a 58-47 victory over William Paterson University in an exhibition game Nov. 7 in Boylan Gym. The Hawks received an 18-point effort from senior Whitney Coleman in the win, while the freshman tandem of forward Mike Myers Keitt and Travis Taylor combined for 16 points and 16 rebounds.
The contest opened with a
Courtney Nelson layup, to give the Pioneers a 2-0 advantage with 19:19 left to play in the first half. Coleman evened the score a minute later with a jump shot from the foul line.
Coleman gave Monmouth a three point advantage, followed by two free throws from Dutch Gaitley at 14:48, to give Monmouth a 7-2 edge. Alex Nunner added a basket after a William Paterson layup to put the Hawks ahead 9-4.
Newcomer Travis Taylor scored a layup at 11:37 and also provided the Hawks with a three-point play with 8:58 left in the first half to make the score 14-8. Junior Yaniv Simpson added a three-pointer from the left side to give Monmouth a seven point advantage at 17-10.
After a lull in scoring when Monmouth held William Paterson to only two made free throws for over five minutes of play, sophomore George Barbour connected on two free throws to put Monmouth ahead 19-12 with 5:32 left to go in the half.
The Pioneers answered with a
Bobby Dunn foul shot and
Gabriel Paul added with a layup to cut the Monmouth lead to two baskets.
Joseph Ellis capitalized off a Monmouth turnover and sank a deep trifecta from the right side to cut the Hawks edge to one, 19-18, with 3:26 left in the first half of play.
Coleman and rookie Mike Myers Keitt made the Monmouth lead 23-18 at 2:18 with four straight free throws, and after a layup by Nelson at 1:19, the Blue and White ended the half with two consecutive Coleman breakaway layups to make the score 29-20 at the break.
Gaitley's free throw to open the second half, gave the Hawks a 10 point lead, before James Hett added a backdoor cut less than a minute later to make the score 32-20. Simpson and Coleman added buckets after a Pioneer jumper to make the score 36-22 with 18:20 left to go in the game.
Hett broke away from traffic after a Coleman steal to add to Monmouth's gaining lead to make the score 38-26. Coleman hit two foul shots with 15:49 left in the game to give Monmouth a 40-26 advantage.
After holding the Pioneers scoreless for over four minutes, Paul netted a basket in the paint to cut Monmouth's lead to 12 points.
Following two Taylor free throws and one from Nunner, Coleman hit a three-pointer to give the Hawks their biggest lead of the night at that point, 48-35. Myers Keitt added a trey to give the Hawks a 14-point lead, which was followed by another Hett lay-in to make the score 56-40 with 5:11 left.
Myers Keitt added another basket from the top of the key with 4:50 showing to put the Blue and White up by 18, its biggest lead of the game.
Myers Keitt dropped in nine points in his collegiate debut, while Taylor led the team with 11 rebounds, including six off the offensive glass, and added seven points. Gaitley grabbed nine boards to go along with three points.
Nelson led the Pioneers with 13 points, and was one of five different WP players to record four rebounds. Ellis dropped in 10 points off the bench.
