Ford with 18, leads Quinnipiac over Monmouth 72-52

HAMDEN, Conn. (AP) James Ford Jr. scored a career-high 18 points - including four 3-pointers - and led Quinnipiac to a 72-52 victory over Monmouth on Thursday night.

Ford scored 13 points in the first half and shot 50 percent from behind the arc. Ousmane Drame added 11 points and 12 boards for the Bobcats, who out-rebounded Monmouth 50-32.

Quinnipiac (12-10, 6-7 Metro Atlantic) led by 13 points at intermission but allowed Monmouth a 7-0 run with 11:11 left to play to put the Hawks within nine. Evan Conti answered with back-to-back 3-pointers for the Bobcats, and they led by double figures the rest of the way.

Monmouth entered the game in a three-way tie for second with Rider and Manhattan in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

Deon Jones scored 12 points to lead the Hawks (12-12, 8-5) and Justin Robinson and Austin Tilghman finished with 11 apiece.