Monmouth Takes Fairleigh Dickinson Men's Hoops in Season Finale, 73-63
Hammond nets 21, Chavez chips in 13 for Knights.

Box Score

W. Long Branch, N.J. - Monmouth University (18-11, 14-6 NEC) defeated the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights by a 73-63 margin in a Northeast Conference game Monday night at Boylan Gym. The Knights closed out the 2001-02 season with a 4-25 overall record and a 4-16 mark in NEC play.

Fairleigh Dickinson opened the game by scoring the first seven points, four by Matt Hammond. The Knights were up 9-4 with 16:24 left in the first half, but suffered through a scoreless drought over the next 7:05 as Monmouth pulled ahead 16-9.  The Knights were able to hold Monmouth to just 36.7 percent from the field in the first frame and trailed by only one at 27-26 heading into the break. 

In the second half the Hawks would build on their lead, stretching the margin to as much as 71-56 with 2:41 remaining, before FDU put together a 7-2 run to end the game. The Hawks’ shooting fortunes were reversed as they shot 58.3% (14-24) in the second half. Monmouth’s matchup-zone defense held the Knights to 38.5% (20-52) shooting for the game, and the Hawks out-rebounded the Knights by a 38-30 margin.

Rahsaan Johnson led the Hawks’ offense with 21 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Jason Krayl had 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists.

Fairleigh Dickinson was led by a 21-point, six-rebound effort from Hammond. Richard Chavez added 13 points and five rebounds, while Brandon Edwards pitched in 11 points and six boards for the Knights.