LONG BRANCH, N.J. (AP) — Jesse Steele scored 20 points and Monmouth (N.J.) used two second-half spurts to pull away from St. Francis (Pa.) 57-51 on Thursday night, splitting the season series.
After the game’s fifth tie at 34-34, the Hawks (9-18, 5-10 Northeast Conference) went on an 8-0 run.
The Red Flash closed to 42-39 with 10:07 to go, then Monmouth used a 9-1 spurt to build an 11-point lead with 5:32 left.
St. Francis responded with a 10-2 run to make it 53-50 with 1:02 remaining. Marcus Ware hit a jumper and Steele made two free throws to push the lead back to seven.