WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – A pair of shots in the final seconds of overtime did not fall as Monmouth scored the final six points of the extra period in its 71-70 victory on Sunday afternoon.
 
1st HALF
Robert Morris (3-3) started the contest strong, using a 12-0 run to take a 17-5 lead by the under-12 minute timeout. However, Monmouth (2-3) fought back, first cutting the deficit in half to make the score 28-22 with 6:02 left. The Hawks intensified their rally, making it a one-possession game with 3:49 remaining, and then tied the score at 30-30 less than a minute later. Monmouth completed the comeback when Jason Rivera-Torres' jumper closed out the scoring, giving the Hawks their first lead since the score was 3-2, sending them into halftime leading 36-35.
 
2nd HALF
Monmouth continued holding the lead until Darius Livingston hit consecutive jumpers to tie the score before the under-12 media timeout. RMU fought back to tie the game twice more: at 49-49 midway through the half, and again at 58-58 with 2:36 left, thanks to five straight points from Livingston. In the final seconds, Ryan Prather Jr. sank what seemed to be the game-winning 3-pointer with 6.3 seconds on the clock, but a lengthy official review overturned the call. As a result, the score remained tied at 60-60, forcing the game into overtime.
 
OVERTIME
The overtime period began with both teams exchanging baskets. However, Livingston provided a surge by scoring five consecutive points, putting RMU ahead 67-62 with 2:52 remaining. Following an exchange of three-pointers, Monmouth mounted a late-game rally, scoring the next six points to take the lead, 71-70. In the final seconds, Livingston's last shot did not go down. Albert Vargas grabbed the rebound and took a final attempt, but his shot rolled out as time expired.
 
HEAD COACH ANDY TOOLE
"This was like a high-level Horizon League game where every possession mattered. You have to get stops, especially on the road. We fouled them, they were a plus 22 from the free throw line and we were 2-for-8. We can't win that way."
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Desean Goode had a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds
• Livingston finished with 17 points with three 3-pointers
• Chitikoudis scored 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting
• RMU was 2-of-8 from the free throw line, Monmouth was 24-of-31
• The Colonials had a slight rebound edge, 41-38 and outscored the Hawks in the paint 36-24

UP NEXT
The Colonials return to Moon Township for the next three games beginning with UIC on Wednesday, November 26. They will host Southern Utah on Friday, November 28 and Stetson on Sunday, November 30 as part of the Urban-Bennett Invitational. All three games have a 2 p.m. tipoff time.
 
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