In a thrilling matchup at the Coastal Athletic Association Tournament, Jack Collins played a pivotal role in leading Monmouth to a narrow 65-60 win against Hofstra on Saturday night. This victory propelled the sixth-seeded Hawks, who hold a 13-19 record, into the quarterfinal round where they will face the third-seeded Charleston on Sunday.
Collins displayed impressive form, scoring 18 points with a shooting performance of 6-for-10 from the field, including 3-for-5 from beyond the arc, and 3-of-8 from the free-throw line. He received significant support from teammates Jaret Valencia, who contributed 12 points, and Abdi Bashir Jr., who added 11 points to help secure the win.
Hofstra, the 11th seed with a 15-18 record, was led by Jean Aranguren, who tallied 19 points and grabbed six rebounds. Michael Graham made his presence felt with 12 points and an impressive 16 rebounds, while German Plotnikov also chipped in 12 points.
The game was tightly contested in the first half, with both teams heading into the break knotted at 28 points each. Collins made a significant impact in the first half with 10 points. Monmouth surged ahead in the second half, opening with a 7-0 run that gave them the lead. Bashir played a crucial role after halftime, adding nine points to sustain their advantage.
This victory underlines Monmouth’s resilience and sets the stage for an exciting matchup against Charleston in the next round of the tournament.
