Salnave, Pillari lead Monmouth past Saint Peter's 73-57

Feb 14, 2018, 02:56 am

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. -- Freshman Ray Salnave scored a career-high 21 points with four assists, Louie Pillari came off the bench to score 17 and Monmouth breezed to a 73-57 victory over Saint Peter's on Tuesday night.

Salnave made all three of his 3-point attempts and sank a career-best 12 of 14 free throws for the Hawks (9-17, 5-9 Mid-American Athletic Conference). Deion Hammond sank three 3s and scored 13 for Monmouth, which connected on 53 percent from distance.

Nick Griffin led the Peacocks (10-16, 4-11) with 15 points, but he made just 2 of 10 from 3-point range as Saint Peter's hit just 5 of 27 from distance (18.5 percent). Sam Idowu added 13 points and six rebounds, while Cameron Jones scored 11, but sank just 1 of 6 from long range.

Monmouth made 13 of 22 from the floor (59 percent) in the first half and led 41-27 at intermission. Idowu hit back-to-back 3-pointers to pull the Peacocks within 60-51 with just over six minutes to play, but Pillari's layup and 5-of-6 shooting at the free-throw line by Salnave pushed the Hawks' lead to 67-51 and they coasted from there.