Monmouth men’s basketball opened the 2024-25 campaign with a 78-61 loss to No. 14 St. John’s on Monday night at Carnesecca Arena in Queens, New York. The Red Hawks faced a formidable opponent in the Big East champions, who entered the game with momentum from back-to-back conference regular season and tournament titles. Despite the final score, Monmouth displayed resilience, winning the second half 34-33 and cutting the deficit to 12 points with nine minutes remaining. This late-game surge highlighted the team’s ability to compete against elite competition, even if the overall result was a defeat.
Red Hawks show grit in second half but fall short against dominant Red Storm in Queens.
St. John’s offense was led by Auburn transfer Keyshawn Hall, who scored 20 of his 26 total points in the first half to fuel the Red Storm’s fast start. The visitors built a commanding 45-29 halftime lead, showcasing their depth and execution. On the other side, Monmouth’s starting five of Jakai Sanders, Lureon Walker, Ashton Walker, Stefanos Spartalis, and Stephen Osei provided a balanced attack. Sanders emerged as the team’s top scorer with a game-high 17 points, while bench player Stefanos Marjanovic added crucial energy off the bench. Torrey Brooks Jr. was inactive for the contest, leaving the coaching staff to rely on the remaining rotation to manage the pace.
The loss offers mixed signals for the Monmouth program as they navigate the early stages of the season. While the first-half deficit against a top-15 team is a concern, the second-half performance suggests the squad has the defensive structure and offensive creativity to challenge higher-ranked opponents. The Red Hawks will now turn their attention to the next matchup, using this experience against a proven Big East powerhouse as a benchmark for their development. Fans and analysts alike will be watching to see if Monmouth can replicate that late-game intensity throughout the full 40 minutes in upcoming conference play.
Source: Yahoo Sports
