WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – For the first time in program history, the Monmouth University men’s basketball team has received votes in the national polls. MU garnered five votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll, and one vote in the AP Top 25 Poll.
The recognition comes after the Hawks went 2-1 in Orlando, FL to take third place in the AdvoCare Invitational, the best finish for a MAAC school since Marist finished third in the first-ever tournament in 2006 in a field with zero ranked teams. Monmouth knocked off its first ranked program with a 70-68 win on Thanksgiving night over #17 Notre Dame, and hung with a Dayton team picked at the top of the Atlantic Ten until the final buzzer on Friday. MU then topped its second Pac-12 opponent of the season, knocking off Southern California 83-73 on Sunday afternoon to claim third in the event.
Junior guard
Justin Robinson (Lake Katrine, NY/Kingston) earned AdvoCare Invitational MVP honors after breaking the tournament scoring record with 77 points in three games, topping the previous mark of 73 set by Michael Beasley with Kansas State in 2007. He was named Lou Henson National Player of the Week and MAAC Player of the Week, and was joined by teammate
Micah Seaborn (Fort Worth, TX/Prime Prep Academy), who earned MAAC Rookie of the Week accolades.