WEST LONG BRANCH — New Jersey native Andrew Ball came off the bench and scored a season-high 18 points with four rebounds, helping lift the host Monmouth University men’s basketball team to an 81-70 victory over William & Mary Thursday night.
Ball is out of Shawnee High School in Burlington County – the same school where William & Mary coach Brian Earl starred. Earl went on to play at Princeton and was Cornell’s head coach for seven years before taking over the Tribe before last season.
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Ball called Earl “a legend at Shawnee. He’s up on the 1,000-point board…I have so much respect for him obviously because he comes from where I’m from.”
“He’s done good things here,” Earl said of Ball.”He’s stuck here for a lot of years which is rare, so it’s good for a hometown kid to do well.”
Monmouth’s Andrew Ball in action during Monmouth University mens basketball vs William & Mary on Thursday, January 8, 2026 in West Long Branch, New Jersey.
Ball is a redshirt senior who went two years without starting a game – he missed his sophomore year with an injury and played 11 minutes per game in his return season – but he’s been a revelation in the current campaign for the Hawks (8-8, 2-1 Coastal Athletic Association), who won their second straight game.
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The 6-foor-9 Ball hit jumpers, slammed dunks and also played well defensively. Whether it was his catch and shoot ability or using his size in the paint, when Ball got going he was tough to stop.
“Just playing confident,” Ball said. “Coach (King) Rice instills confidence in me everyday, my teammates (at) practice everyday since the summer. Teammates got me open, we played the right way, shared the ball and just hit the ball, so it was a good day.”
Ball has started four games but has provided a consistent boost off the bench. His averages of 7.5 points and 4.1 rebounds are career highs.’
No matter his role – starting or subbing – Ball presents with high-energy and encouraging his teammates.
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“Andrew’s one of my favorite kids,” Rice said. “He’s been here four years. Andrew’s in the gym. I come in the morning he’s in here, come back at night he’s in the gym with the young lady that’s going to Indiana (Red Bank Catholic’s Addy Nyemcek, ranked No. 28 in the Class of 2026 by ESPN) – he works out with her and her trainer.
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“Andrew’s getting to the point where if he had Jack Collins’ confidence, he might make the big league. Just cause his skillset is ridiculous. He shoots it, he can dunk, he can pass, he just got to believe.”
More: Monmouth basketball loses another one at end of game: ‘We’re tired of it’
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Also big games from Jason Rivera-Torres, Cornelius Robinson III; injury concern over Justin Ray subsides
Jason Rivera-Torres scored a game-high 19 points to go with 7 rebounds and 4 assists for the Hawks. Cornelius Robinson III, a bully inside the paint with his physicality, had 17 points and 8 rebounds. Justin Ray, who came out in the first half with what looked like a hamstring injury, returned and played the rest of the way, scoring 12 points. Jack Collins filled the stat sheet with 8 points, 8 boards and 7 assists.
Monmouth’s Jack Collings shown during Monmouth University mens basketball vs William & Mary on Thursday, January 8, 2026 in West Long Branch, New Jersey.
Monmouth able to pull away after a close game
So far this season, the Hawks have struggled to pull away in close games. Opponents such as Campbell, Le Moyne, and Syracuse were all games decided by single digits. Monmouth led by single digits for most of the game until late. They went on a 6-0 run to go up 79-64 with just over a minute left. Monmouth looked to have more left in the tank than William & Mary as time dwindled. Ball, Rivera-Torres and Robinson each started to get offensive boards, which led to extra possessions.
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“I think we’re getting better,” Rice said. “We obviously needed to work on our game situations, we’ve been working on them. Sometimes kids just get excited and do things that are uncharacteristic of who they are what they’re supposed to do. I think I’ve gotten better at not letting it blow me up, then I blow them up.”
Up and down type of game
Basketball is a game of runs and Thursday’s game displayed that perfectly. The game was fast-paced with fast breaks and runs controlling most of the game. There were a combined 28 turnovers (Monmouth had 11). The Tribe’s full court pressure bothered Monmouth to begin the game, but the Hawks ended up handling it well in the second half. For Monmouth, their interior defense was effective. Whether it was active hands on passes or its five blocks, Monmouth also caused issues for William & Mary’s offense.
Monmouth ended up going on a 13-3 run towards the end of the half to take the lead 35-28 with 2:48 left. They were efficient, hitting 9 of 11 shots from the field during that stretch. After having eight giveaways in the first half, Monmouth cleaned that up.
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“We thought we were really playing well, that they were only down three (points at halftime),” Rice said. “I think they made a couple plays to get to that and eight is too many in a half. Passing up shots, didn’t shoot the 3 a couple times, then you drive and get the turnover… I think we said we had to have under 10 to win the game if you only had three in the second half that’s pretty good.”
Monmouth’s Jack Collings shown during Monmouth University mens basketball vs William & Mary on Thursday, January 8, 2026 in West Long Branch, New Jersey.
Season-high made 3-pointers for Monmouth
Coming into the game, Monmouth was sixth in the conference with 3-point percentage, shooting 34% from deep. However, thanks to the Tribe’s full court traps and double teams, it allowed some good looks for Monmouth shooters. Collins, Ray and Rivera-Torres all found their stroke. Monmouth made a season-high 10 shots from deep and shot 40%.
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“What we’ve been trying to do is we got Jason, (Ray), Andrew, Jack – they’re on the catch guys,” Rice said. “But they’re unselfish so on the catch…they’re not thinking shoot first. I’m trying to get them to understand with those four guys that if you don’t shoot it that’s being as selfish as the guy that’s shooting too much.”
Monmouth’s Justin Ray in action during Monmouth University mens basketball vs William & Mary on Thursday, January 8, 2026 in West Long Branch, New Jersey.
What’s next?
Monmouth heads to Hempstead, New York to play Hofstra, a team that’s 3-0 in the conference and 12-4 overall. Monmouth has won the last three games against Hofstra. Hofstra coach Speedy Claxton and Rice are familiar with one another.
“We dropped the first one, we lost to Campbell, now we won two in a row. Now we got arguably the best team (in the CAA),” Rice said. “I know Speedy was excited about this team, I texted him today and told him ‘good win’ we chopped it up a little bit.”
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Andrew Ball, Monmouth basketball notch victory over William & Mary
