Box Score Monmouth fought back from an early 11 point hole, but couldn’t quite keep their two-game win streak against Carroll alive, falling to the Pioneers 71-63.
The Fighting Scots took last year’s MWC representative in the NCAA Tournament to the final horn and left the majority of the second half. The Scots came back after the Pioneers took an 11 point edge with eight minutes left in the first half thanks to a 14-2 run.
Trailing 25-14, Mike DeDecker to the ball rolling with a bucket and then a steal to set up Jon Calhoun who converted with a layup for two of his 13 points. Nick Marema’s bucket inside trimmed the margin to five before Calhoun converted on a pair of free throws with less than five minutes left in the half. Wes Dukeman’s two free throws a minute later gave the Scots the lead for the first time since they hit the opening bucket.
Monmouth took a 28-27 halftime lead after both teams went scoreless in the final three minutes.
The Scots stayed hot in the second half, opening a 10 point lead on a pair of free throws from Ben Friday with 14:12 remaining. The Pioneers countered, and went on a 12-2 run to knot the game at 47-47 five minutes later. The Pioneers then took the lead for good on a three with 6:43 left and were able to hold Monmouth off down the stretch.
Dukeman’s 14 points led five Scots in double figures.