Men’s basketball continued to struggle this past weekend as the team fell twice to the Fairfield University Stags and St. Peter’s University Peacocks respectively. With the losses the blue and white now find themselves in the midst of a five game losing streak, and are currently ninth overall in the MAAC with a 4-10 conference record. MU posts a 10-15 overall record on the season.
While the Hawks have been exciting to watch, and shown flashes of greatness this season, their youth has been evident as they continue to have a hard time winning away from home. MU now has a 1-7 road record in MAAC conference play and a 3-9 road record overall.
The Hawks first fell to Fairfield 60-56 on Friday, February 7th in a tight knit, low-scoring contest. Junior guards Andrew Nicholas and Deon Jones were the only two Hawk players to score double digit points on the night. Nicholas was the game’s high scorer with 16 points on 6-16 shooting from the field, and also hit two three point shots, while Jones shot 4-12 overall which was good for ten points. Sophomore forward Tyrone O’Garro continued to rebound the ball well, and led the team with 11 boards.
MU started off the game on the right foot when they jumped out to an early 10-2 lead with Nicholas and, freshman guard, Josh James combining for all ten points. The blue and white maintained a steady lead throughout much of the first half, and led by six points with 6:17 remaining. However, the final five minutes of the half saw the Stags gain some momentum and, with just under three minutes left, a pair of Marcus Gilbert free-throws gave Fairfield its first lead of the game at 23-22.
Fairfield didn’t hold the lead for long, however. Just over a minute later, freshman center, Zac Tillman hit two free throws of his own to help MU retake the lead. A three from freshmen Justin Robinson extended the Hawks lead, but a last minute layup from K.J. Rose sent both teams to the locker room with the Hawks holding a slim 28-27 advantage.
After the Stags tied the score at 29 early in the second, a Nicholas three and Jones layup put the Hawks back on top 34-29 with a little less than four minutes gone in the half.
Fairfield, however, was able to quickly respond to MU’s short burst, and, over the next eight minutes of action, took control of the game. Behind strong play from Rose and Gilbert FU went on a 20-6 run that gave the Stags their largest lead of the night, 49-40, with 8:40 to go in the contest.
Despite the deficit the Hawks did not give in as they answered with a 12-0 run of their own, highlighted by the play of Nicholas and Jones, to put MU in front 52-49 with only five minutes remaining in the game.
Unfortunately, for the Hawks, four consecutive points from Rose put FU back in front 53-52 at the four minute mark. Tight defense and clutch free throws kept the Stags in front for good as they sealed the victory.
“This was a tough night for us,” said Head Coach King Rice after the game. “Fairfield made more plays than us down the stretch to get the win.”
The Hawks had a tough shooting night overall as they went 19-55 (34.5%) from the field and only made three shots from beyond the arc. Fairfield shot only slightly better going 21-53 from the field (39.6%) while hitting five three point shots.
Fairfield is now 5-19 on the year, and is last in the MAAC with a 2-11 conference record.
The blue and white were unable to bounce back when they travelled to St. Peter’s for their second game of the weekend on Sunday, February 9th. It was a tale of two halves as the Hawks surrendered a 14 point halftime lead and fell to the Peacocks 61-50.
Nicholas and Jones were, again, the only two Hawks to score in double figures with Nicholas leading the team with 16 and Jones chipping in with 15 of his own. The duo also led the team in rebounding with Jones recording a team high nine boards while Nicholas grabbed seven. Marvin Dominique had a game high 20 points for the Peacocks while teammate Desi Washington added 17.
MU fell behind early when Washington scored the first points of the night on a three point shot as part of a St. Peter’s run to give them a 10-4 lead four minutes into the contest. It was all Hawks for the remaining 16 minutes as MU outscored SPU 26-6 the rest of the half.
Jones scored nine of his points during the stretch while Nicholas put in seven to combine for 16 of the teams 26 points. Freshman center Chris Brady also chipped in with three of his four points on the night.
As the second half began St. Peter’s wasted no time in seizing the momentum. Washington again opened up the scoring by hitting his second three, and first of four consecutive Peacock threes, of the night which kick started a 21-7 Peacock run, over a span of 12 minutes, to tie the game at 37.
Both teams traded baskets the next several minutes, and an O’Garro lay-in off of an assist by freshman guard Josh James put the Hawks in front 45-43 with only 4:26 left to go in the game. This would be the last time MU would lead on the night. Just twenty seconds later a three from Dominique put St. Peter’s ahead by one, a lead they never relinquished.
St. Peter’s wouldn’t allow a late comeback bid by the Hawks as they hit 7-8 free-throws with a minute remaining to ice the game. Including the Dominique three that put them ahead, the Peacocks outscored MU 18-5 the final four and half minutes of the contest.
The Hawks shooting was again their downfall as they went only 18-61 (29.5%) total and 1-14 (7.1%) from three on the night compared to 41.2% total shooting and 31.6% beyond the arc from the Peacocks. MU did shoot well from the free throw line going 13-18 (76.5%), and also outrebound SPU 44-35 for the game.
With the win St. Peter’s now posts a 9-14 overall record, and, sitting at eighth, is one spot ahead of MU in the MAAC with a 5-9 conference record.
With only six regular season games remaining the Hawks will look to finish strong in order to improve their seed in the upcoming MAAC Championship Tournament.
Fortunately for MU, the team plays four of their final six regular season games at home. The blue and white have fared much better in the friendly confines of the MAC, posting a 7-5 overall record including a 3-3 record in conference games.
However, the Hawks will first travel to New Rochelle, New York for a clash with Iona on Friday, February 14.
MU won’t be showing the Gaels any love this Valentine’s Day as the team looks to avenge the 79-61 loss Iona handed them on February 4 when the two teams met in the MAC.
It is sure to be a tough test for the blue and white as the Gaels currently sit atop the MAAC standings with a 12-2 conference mark and 15-8 overall record on the season. Their two conference losses have come against Canisius and Quinnipiac who are third and fourth in the MAAC standings respectively. Tip-off is set for 7 pm.
PHOTO COURTESY of Jim Reme
