Baptiste scores 27 points, Scott 20 as Fairleigh Dickinson turns back Monmouth rally 75-69

Fairleigh Dickinson holds off Monmouth 75-69

HACKENSACK, N.J. — Sean Baptiste scored 27 points and Mike Scott 20 for Fairleigh Dickinson, which withstood a second-half Monmouth comeback to win 75-69 on Thursday night.

The Knights (7-16, 6-5 Northeast Conference) led by 22 points, 47-25, less than 3 minutes into the second half, but a 20-4 spurt by the Hawks (10-13, 6-5), which included 10 points by Whitney Coleman, cut the lead to 51-45.

Monmouth twice pulled within five points, the last time trailing 62-57 with 3:46 left.

Scott made a pair of free throws for Fairleigh Dickinson on its next possession for a seven-point lead and, after a missed 3-point try by Coleman, made two more free throws for a 66-57 lead with 2:34 to play.

Baptiste scored 11 points and Scott seven during a 23-9 first-half spurt that turned a 17-15 Fairleigh Dickinson lead into a 40-24 advantage at halftime.

Coleman led Monmouth with 18 points.