Monmouth's Ed Waite looks up at cheering Wildcat fans in Monday's game. See photo gallery below. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Brendan McKillop hit 5 three-pointers and had 17 points total to lead Davidson past Monmouth, 69-53, Monday night at Belk Arena in the Wildcats’ return home after playing their first five games on the road.

JP Kuhlman had 11 points while Jake Cohen added 10 for Davidson, which raised its record to 3-3 on the year. Ed Waite scored 15 and Will Campbell had 12 for the Hawks, now 1-3.

For the Wildcats, it was a relief to play again before a friendly crowd. After the game, Coach Bob McKillop began his remarks to reporters by saying, “It’s good to be back.”

But it took a while for the Cats to warm up in the first half, and they needed a second-half surge – including some key three-pointers from McKillop – to open up a comfortable lead.

The teams traded the lead six times in game’s first 11 minutes until Cohen hit a layup on a breakaway with 8:42 left, to make it 21-20. From there, McKillop hit a series of baskets, including two of his 3 first-half threes. That put Davidson up 39-29 at halftime

McKillop finished the half with 11 points, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range. Cohen had 8 of his 10 points in the half.

After the break, the Wildcats worked to extend their lead. With just under 14 minutes left, Frank Ben-Eze hit a layup, McKillop knocked down a 3-pointer from the top of the foul circle and then Clint Mann eased in a layup on a breakaway. That made it 55-38 with 12:35 left.

Then Davidson went into a four-minute scoring lull, committing a series of turnovers that let Monmouth claw its way back to 55-47.

The tide turned again for the Cats after Monmouth’s Nick Deltufo was called for an offensive foul under the hoop with 8:22 left. Seconds later, his reaction to the call earned him a technical foul.

Kuhlman stepped to the line and sank both foul shots, putting Davidson back up by 10, at 57-47. From there, the Cats didn’t waver.

With 5:48 left, Jordan Downing took a pass from Kuhlman as the shot clock wound down and sank a big 3-pointer from the left side, making it 62-48.

With 3:47 left, Ben-Eze smacked away a layup by R.J. Rutledge, drawing a big cheer from the crowd.

The Cats worked the clock, passing around looking for good shots and depriving Monmouth of chances.

When time ran out, it was 69-53, Cats.

“I thought our effort tonight was very very consistent and very very good,” Coach McKillop said later. He said Monmouth’s Princeton-style offense was difficult to play against, because they’re “very methodical, their match-up zone makes you really pass the ball and cut, and it fatigues you.”

The Hawks’ play didn’t provide many open shots, forcing the Cats to shoot from outside and to shoot quickly, Coach McKillop said. “I thought the way we responded to that, with patient teammwork … The ball moved tonight as well as it’s ever moved at Davidson. I was very pleased about that.”

CONFERENCE GAMES AWAY

Davidson goes back on the road again, facing what could be a tough College Charleston on Thursday night at 7, then playing at Citadel Saturday at 3 p.m.

GAME NOTES: The win was Davidson’s 19th straight in a home opener. … The Cats were playing without freshman forward De’Mon Brooks and junior guard Will Reigel, who are out with injuries. Brooks could be back at practice this week, according to McKillop.

RELATED LINKS

Download the box score for Monday’s game (PDF), CLICK HERE>

Read more about Davidson basketball and other sports on DavidsonWildcats.com.

PHOTO GALLERY

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