Monmouth beats West Virginia 73-65 behind Xander Rice's career-high 30 points

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- — Xander Rice scored 20 of his 30 points in the second half, Jack Collins had 17 points and a career-high 10 rebounds for his first double-double and Monmouth beat West Virginia 73-65 on Friday night.

Collins made Monmouth's final field goal with 2:58 remaining for a 68-55 lead.

Rice missed a free throw with 58.1 seconds left but Collins grabbed an offensive rebound before being fouled. Collins missed two straight free throws, following an offensive rebound, and Seth Wilson made a deep 3-pointer to pull West Virginia within 69-65 with 43.4 left.

Rice made two free throws for a 71-65 lead, and Wilson and Josiah Harris each missed a 3-pointer at the other end.

Jakari Spence added seven points for Monmouth (1-1), which was coming off a season-opening 72-61 loss to George Mason. Rice, a Bucknell transfer, scored 21 points in the opener.

Syracuse transfer Jesse Edwards had 16 points and 13 rebounds for West Virginia (1-1). Quinn Slazinski added 15 points and Kobe Johnson scored 13. West Virginia guard Kerr Kriisa sat out the second game of a nine-game suspension for accepting impermissible benefits while he was at Arizona.

West Virginia got Josh Eilert his first coaching victory on Monday against Missouri State.

Monmouth, coached by former North Carolina standout King Rice, hosts Princeton on Nov. 18. West Virginia continues its three-game, eight-day homestand on Tuesday against Jacksonville State.

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