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Monmouth basketball coach King Rice has new 5-year contract

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. -- Monmouth men's basketball coach King Rice has a new five-year contract.

The university in New Jersey announced the deal on Friday just hours before the Hawks were to face Rider in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game.

The 47-year-old King will be under contract through the 2020-21 season.

Monmouth is having a record season. It has a school-record 23 wins heading into Friday's game, including victories over UCLA, Notre Dame, Georgetown, and USC. At 15-3 in league play, Monmouth holds sole possession of first place in the MAAC and is in position to capture its first regular-season conference title since entering the league in 2013-14.

A point guard at North Carolina, Rice took over the Monmouth program in 2011.