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West Long Branch native Xander Rice scored 37 points in Monmouth's 88-87 home win over Campbell University on Thursday, Feb. 15.
The Patrick School alum was 13 for 23 from the field and eight for 12 on three-pointers, but no shot was more clutch than the final one of the game.
The Campbell Fighting Camels led the Hawks 87-85 with 2.3 seconds left. Manasquan native and sophomore guard Jack Collins inbounded the ball to Rice from under Campbell's basket.
Rice caught the ball at the top of the key and took three dribbles toward the sideline. He barely crossed center court when he hoisted up a desperation shot with 0.9 seconds left.
The ball banked off the glass and went through the hoop, sending the 1,582 people in the OceanFirst Bank Center into a frenzy.
"Xander Rice, a miracle three wins it for Monmouth!" play-by-play broadcaster Eddy Occhipinti shouted on the TV broadcast.
Soon after Rice's shot went in, college basketball fans all over saw the tremendous buzzer-beater that was an early taste of next month's mayhem. The official NCAA men's March Madness account and CBS Sports College Basketball were two well-known profiles to share the incredible game-winner.
The graduate student guard's buzzer-beater also reached ESPN as the second-best play on SportsCenter's top 10.
"Rice was cooking and he left Campbell steaming," ESPN anchor Stan Verrett said.
Monmouth improved to 14-12 on the season and it was their 11th-straight home victory. The win also moved the Hawks past Campbell in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) standings at 7-6.
Campbell was ahead of Monmouth for a good portion of the game, leading 60-52 with 13:37 left. That was when the Hawks went on a 16-4 run, with 13 of those points coming from Rice.
The Fighting Camels did take the lead back and were up 85-80 with just 17 seconds left. Rice banked in another three-pointer with about four seconds left to set up his buzzer-beater.
Rice said he and the Hawks never lost hope.
"This team has no quit in them," Rice said in his postgame TV interview. "We all play with a huge chip on our shoulder and I think that's why I think the shot went our way tonight because we just kept playing."
Rice transferred to Monmouth after playing four seasons at Bucknell University. His return home is also a family affair since his father King Rice has been the head coach at Monmouth since 2011.
Xander Rice said it felt tremendous to hit an improbable buzzer-beater in his hometown.
"It's the coolest thing ever," Rice said. "I grew up in this gym. I grew up in this city. I grew up with this university. It's just a blessing. I'm thankful every day."
King Rice said it was an emotional moment for him as Xander's father.
"This boy has worked so hard his whole life," King Rice said in his postgame interview. "He probably didn't get the credit that he deserved because I was his dad. That he chose here to be with us and he's having this type of year is what college athletics is all about. As a dad, there's nobody that's more proud."
As of Friday, Feb. 16, Xander Rice was second in the CAA in points per game (21.8) and three-point percentage (37.4 percent). He's also helping his teammates find buckets, coming in eighth place in the conference in assists (3.4).
In their next game, Monmouth will host Stony Brook University on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 4 p.m.
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