WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. (AP) - Andrew Nicholas scored a career-high 28 points, and Monmouth (N.J.) scored 50 points in the first half for the first time in almost three years as the Hawks toppled Hofstra 91-62 in both team's season opener Friday night.
Nicholas backed the Hawks on a pair of scoring runs in the first half of the nonconference game, starting with five points during a 15-3 stretch at the game's onset. When Hofstra cut Monmouth's lead to 19-17, Nicholas responded with three consecutive 3-pointers and 11 points during a 19-3 scoring run.
Monmouth reached the half-century mark in the first half for the first time since a Dec. 12, 2009 matchup against Pennsylvania.
The Hawks recorded 17 steals, including four by Jesse Steele, and won the turnover battle 23-14. Steele, the team's leading scorer last year, had 10 points and six assists.
Stevie Mejia and Shaquille Stokes led Hofstra with 12 points each.
| Scoreboard | |||
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
| Hofstra (0-1) | 31 | 31 | 62 |
| Monmouth (1-0) « | 50 | 41 | 91 |
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| Hofstra Pride | |||||||
| STARTERS | M | FG | FT | TR | A | PF | PTS |
| D. Imes, F | 24 | 2-9 | 0-0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| J. Allen, F | 13 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| S. Nwaukoni, C | 19 | 2-5 | 0-0 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| S. Mejia, G | 27 | 2-10 | 7-11 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 12 |
| K. Washington, G | 13 | 0-4 | 0-0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| BENCH | M | FG | FT | TR | A | PF | PTS |
| D. Anglin | 29 | 1-11 | 3-3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| J. Hall | 26 | 3-6 | 5-10 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
| S. Stokes | 26 | 4-12 | 3-4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| M. Kone | 23 | 4-6 | 2-2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Totals | 19-65 | 20-30 | 45 | 10 | 14 | 62 | |
| 29.2% | 66.7% | ||||||
| Monmouth Hawks | |||||||
| STARTERS | M | FG | FT | TR | A | PF | PTS |
| E. Waite, F | 17 | 4-5 | 1-1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| M. Ware, F | 7 | 3-9 | 2-2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 8 |
| A. Nicholas, G | 27 | 10-22 | 4-4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 28 |
| J. Steele, G | 23 | 4-8 | 0-0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 10 |
| D. Nesmith, G | 21 | 1-5 | 1-2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| BENCH | M | FG | FT | TR | A | PF | PTS |
| K. Brown | 29 | 2-5 | 0-0 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| T. O'Garro | 20 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| S. Spinella | 19 | 3-5 | 2-2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
| M. DiLeo | 12 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| C. White | 10 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| J. Palm | 9 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| G. Cox | 6 | 4-4 | 2-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Totals | 36-72 | 12-13 | 40 | 25 | 25 | 91 | |
| 50% | 92.3% | ||||||
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