Monmouth Reverses Its Course in Play-In Game

DAYTON, Ohio — A Monmouth team with a history of being on the short end of NCAA blowouts opened the tournament on the other side of one.

Chris Kenny set an opening-round record with six three-point baskets Tuesday night, and 7-foot-2 center John Bunch entertained the crowd at the University of Dayton Arena with his bulk and his blocks during a 71-49 victory over Hampton in the play-in game.

Monmouth (19-14) moves on to Philadelphia to play No. 1-seeded Villanova on Friday.

The Hawks hadn’t come close to winning any of their three previous NCAA appearances, losing by 24 points to Marquette in 1996; by 43 to No. 1-seeded Duke in 2001; and by 33 to Mississippi State in 2004.

Kenny made five three-pointers in the first half, matching his career high and the record for an NCAA play-in game. He finished with 18 points.

Monmouth went 10 for 26 from behind the arc.

The 7-2, 320-pound Bunch finished with seven points, six rebounds and five blocks.

Bunch got a huge ovation when his turnaround short-range jumper gave Monmouth its biggest lead of the first half, 35-18.