Valparaiso never trails, beats Monmouth 64-53
CONWAY, S.C. -- Deion Lavender scored 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting to help Valparaiso beat Monmouth 64-53 on Friday night in the Myrtle Beach Invitational.
Lavender also had eight rebounds and five assists. Ryan Fazekas added 13 points, including three 3-pointers, and Javon Freeman scored 12 for Valpo (2-1).
Freeman, Fazekas and Markus Golder each hit a 3-pointer during 12-2 run that was capped by Lavender's layup and made it 18-8 midway through the first half. Deion Hammond hit a 3-pointer that trimmed Monmouth's deficit to seven points with 5:20 to go but Fazekas answered with a 3 and Derrik Smits and Fazekas made back-to-back jumpers before Golder added a 3-pointer that made it 61-44 with less than three minutes remaining.
Mustapha Traore led Monmouth (0-5) with 14 points on 7-of-7 shooting. The rest of the Hawks shot just 30 percent (14 of 46) from the field.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Craig Murley
- Kevin Mathis
- Mike Eades
2024-25 Missouri Valley Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana State | 2-0 | - | 8-4 |
| Drake | 1-0 | 0.5 | 11-0 |
| Bradley | 1-0 | 0.5 | 10-2 |
| Belmont | 1-0 | 0.5 | 9-3 |
| Northern Iowa | 1-0 | 0.5 | 7-5 |
| Murray State | 1-1 | 1 | 6-5 |
| Illinois State | 0-1 | 1.5 | 8-4 |
| UIC | 0-1 | 1.5 | 7-4 |
| Missouri State | 0-1 | 1.5 | 7-5 |
| Valparaiso | 0-1 | 1.5 | 7-5 |
| Southern Illinois | 0-1 | 1.5 | 5-7 |
| Evansville | 0-1 | 1.5 | 3-9 |
2024-25 Coastal Athletic Association Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampton | 1-0 | - | 7-5 |
| UNC Wilmington | 0-0 | 0.5 | 9-3 |
| Charleston | 0-0 | 0.5 | 8-3 |
| Elon | 0-0 | 0.5 | 8-4 |
| Hofstra | 0-0 | 0.5 | 8-4 |
| Northeastern | 0-0 | 0.5 | 8-4 |
| Drexel | 0-0 | 0.5 | 8-5 |
| Delaware | 0-0 | 0.5 | 7-5 |
| Campbell | 0-0 | 0.5 | 5-7 |
| William & Mary | 0-0 | 0.5 | 5-7 |
| Towson | 0-0 | 0.5 | 5-8 |
| Stony Brook | 0-0 | 0.5 | 4-8 |
| Monmouth | 0-0 | 0.5 | 2-10 |
| North Carolina A&T | 0-1 | 1 | 3-10 |
Men's College Basketball News
