GAME 32
SCORE	No. 6 Monmouth Hawks 76, No. 11 Niagara Purple Eagles 72
RECORDS	Monmouth (12-20), Niagara (13-19)
LEADING SCORERS	Monmouth – Ray Salnave (20), Niagara – Raheem Solomon (24)
LOCATION	Times Union Center
TOURNAMENT	2019 MAAC Championship First Round

 
ALBANY, N.Y. – Raheem Solomon's career-high 24 points led all scorers as the Niagara Purple Eagles were eliminated in the final minutes by the sixth-seeded Monmouth Hawks, 76-72, in the 2019 MAAC Championships First Round on Saturday night.

Game Summary
The 14^th all-time meeting between Niagara and Monmouth was decided in the final minutes of a competitive contest with 15 ties and 10 lead changes.

After the first half ended in a 33-33 tie, Marvin Prochet opened the second half with a 3-pointer as neither team led by more than five points in the second frame.  Trailing 60-55 with 9:51 remaining, the Purple Eagles went on a 10-1 run in a four-minute span to lead 65-61. The Hawks, then, reeled off six straight points for a 67-65 lead, before Chris Barton tied the game with a jumper with 3:14 left in the game.

Monmouth scored five straight points to break a 69-69 tie for a 74-69 lead with 1:34 remaining. Solomon connected on a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 74-72 with 59 seconds left. Niagara forced a turnover on Monmouth's next possession, but was unable to capitalize as the Purple Eagles' committed a turnover on their possession.

After Monmouth made 1 of 2 free throws to lead 75-72 with 12 seconds remaining, Prochet's corner 3-pointer rimmed out with three seconds left.

Solomon led all scorers in the first half with 12 points, including three 3-pointers, en route to his career-high scoring night. The Purple Eagles built a 21-14 lead at the 10-minute mark behind an 11-4 run. Solomon ignited the run with a triple, followed by a 3-pointer by James Towns, a three-point play by Marcus Hammond and a pair of free throws by Prochet.

The Hawks responded with 13-3 run to lead 27-24 with 3:43 left in the half. Niagara closed out the half outscoring Monmouth, 9-6, as the teams went into the break knotted at 33-33.
 
Eagle's Eye On…

• Raheem Solomon scored a career-high 24 points, including a game-high five 3-pointers and going a career-best 7-for-8 at the free-throw line. He also grabbed five rebounds.
• Marvin Prochet notched his second straight double-double, and ninth this season, with 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Prochet's three blocks tied a season-high.
• Dominic Robb had a game-high four blocks, including three blocks in one possession.
• Marcus Hammond scored 15 points and had a game-high three assists.

 
Inside The Numbers

• The Purple Eagles tied a season-high in free throws made with 22.
• Niagara's eight blocks are the second most this season.   
• Niagara made at least 10 3-pointers for the 11^th time this season.
• Raheem Solomon became the seventh Purple Eagle with a 20-point game this season.  
• Marvin Prochet finished his four-year career with 1,340 points, 831 rebounds, 179 assists, 119 blocks, 89 steals, and 19 double-doubles.
  • His 1,340 points are 20^th on the career scoring list.
  • His 831 rebounds are 10^th on the career rebounds list.
  • His 75 3-pointers made are tied for 10^th and his 42.1 3-point field goal percent is seventh on the single-season list.  
• Dominic Robb finished his four-year career with 1,033 points, 596 rebounds, and 225 blocks.
  • His 225 blocks are most in program history, surpassing Joe Aralauckas' 220.
  • His 69 blocks this season are third most in program history and five short from tying the most in a season which he set with 74 during the 2016-17 season.
• Chris Barton finished his four-year career with 709 points, 270 rebounds and 121 assists.
• Greg King finished his two-year career with 299 points, 324 rebounds, and 40 blocks.

 
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