WEST LONG BRANCH – Behind a sharp shooting performance and a stifling interior presence, the Monmouth University men’s basketball team closed its non-conference schedule on a high note, defeating Lehigh University 76-62 on Sunday afternoon at the OceanFirst Bank Center.
The victory snapped a three-game skid for the Hawks (6-7) and provided much-needed momentum heading into Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play. Meanwhile, Lehigh (4-9) struggled to overcome a late first-half scoring drought and persistent turnover issues in their final tune-up before Patriot League action.
The contest began as a back-and-forth affair. Monmouth used the early minutes to establish their dominance in the paint, sparked by Cornelius Robinson III and Justin Ray. However, Lehigh’s Joshua Ingram and Andrew Urosevic kept the Mountain Hawks within striking distance by finding success from beyond the arc.
Lehigh briefly took a 17-16 lead midway through the half on a pull-up jumper by Nasir Whitlock. The teams remained deadlocked at 28-28 with just over two minutes remaining in the period. The momentum shifted decisively when Monmouth’s Anthony Martinez completed an “and-one” play, triggering a pivotal 9-0 run to close the half. The Hawks entered the locker room with a 37-28 lead, having scored 22 of those points in the paint.
Lehigh emerged from the break with renewed energy, scoring five unanswered points to cut the deficit to four. However, Ray responded with a timely three-pointer that seemed to deflate the Mountain Hawks’ comeback attempt.
The Hawks eventually pushed their lead to 14 points (51-37) with 14 minutes remaining. While Lehigh’s defense held Monmouth to just one field goal over a subsequent five-minute stretch, the Mountain Hawks were unable to capitalize on the offensive end. Monmouth’s defense, which ranks among the top 25 nationally in blocks, forced Lehigh into 20 total turnovers, converting those mistakes into 22 transition points.
In the final minutes, Jason Rivera-Torres completed a three-point play to give Monmouth its largest lead of the day at 75-57, effectively sealing the 14-point victory.
Rivera-Torres finished the afternoon with a near double-double scoring 11 points while grabbing eight rebounds. Ray and Robinson III also finished the game in double figures scoring with 17 and 15 points respectively.
Monmouth begins its conference campaign as it hosts the Campbell Fighting Camels for the CAA opener on Wednesday, December 31. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 PM EST at the OceanFirst Bank Center in West Long Branch. Following their decisive victory over Lehigh, the Hawks are eager to defend their home court and carry that momentum into league play. They face a Campbell squad that has struggled to find its rhythm early this season, making this a critical opportunity for Monmouth to establish an early winning record in the conference standings.
