Box Score  
Monmouth refused to take a 3-pointer, but hit their free throws instead and got 40 points from Justin Aluya to hold off Grinnell 99-91 and climb into position for a Midwest Conference Tournament berth.
 
Leading 50-39 at the half, the Scots never trailed in the final 20 minutes, but had to hold off the hard-charging Pioneers. Aluya's effort also included 12 rebounds – including two crucial boards in the final minute to help keep Grinnell at bay. The Pioneers had pulled within one at 65-64 at the 11:14 mark. Monmouth held off Grinnell when Will Jones hit a bucket-and-one on the way to a 21-point night to put the Scots back to a four-point lead.
 
Nursing a five-point advantage with 51 seconds left, the Scots hit four of six free throws to hold off the Pioneers and move to 4-5 in league play to sit in sixth position, one spot behind the Pioneers. For the game, the Scots drained 33-of42 free throw attempts and went 33-of-45 from the field
 
Monmouth travels to Lake Forest for a 5 p.m. matchup Saturday with a chance to climb in the standings facing the Foresters, tied for third in the MWC.