Plumer's Tip-In at Buzzer Gives Monmouth 65-64 Win at Knox

Williams scores 17 points in victory

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (02/07/2024) — The Monmouth College men's basketball team got a tip in at the buzzer from Turner Plumer (Canton, Illinois) to beat rival Knox 65-64 on the road Tuesday night. The Scots (13-9, 7-6) moved into a tie for third place in the Midwest Conference standings with the win.

David Williams (Loves Park, Illinois) hit a 3-pointer for a 3-1 Scots lead before Knox made the next six field goals. The lone Monmouth point in that run was a free throw by Turner Plumer (Canton, Illinois). Jordan Hill (Chicago, Illinois) hit a 3-pointer but Knox pushed the lead back to seven at 15-8. Jason Huber (Carpentersville, Illinois) hit a 3-pointer and Williams made a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 17-13. Max Maring (Port Byron, Illinois) scored twice in a row to tie the game before Knox hit a 3-pointer. Plumer scored on a putback but Knox hit another 3-pointer for a 23-19 lead. Ganon Greenman (Alpha, Illinois) made a free throw before both HIll and Kyle Taylor (Moline, Illinois) hit 3-pointers for a 26-23 Monmouth lead. Knox scored four in a row to regain the lead.

The teams traded buckets to start the second half with Williams and Hill scoring for the Scots. A 3-pointer by Hill gave the Scots a 33-31 lead but the Prairie Fire answered with a 3-pointer. With the Scots down two, Taylor stole the ball and tied the game with a layup. Plumer completed a 3-point play for a 39-36 lead and after a Knox free throw, Maring also completed a 3-point play. Knox went on a 9-0 run to lead 46-42 before Williams buried a 3-pointer. Plumer scored for a 47-46 lead before Knox answered. Plumer made a pair of free throws to put the Scots back on top and Knox called timeout with 6:40 to play.

After Knox scored on a putback, Williams hit a 3-pointer for a 52-50 lead. Tied at 52, Taylor made two free throws but Knox tied it up again. Maring hit two free throws to tie the game at 56 with 2:59 left. Knox scored but Williams hit another 3-pointer for a 59-58 lead. Down 62-59 with under a minute to play, Hill made a circus layup and made the ensuing free throw to tie the game. Knox scored on a putback with 4.0 seconds to play and Monmouth called timeout. Taylor was fouled with 1.4 seconds to play and knocked down the first before a Knox timeout. Taylor missed the second free throw and Plumer tipped in the rebound to win the game for the Fighting Scots.

Williams led the Scots with 17 points while Plumer had 13 to go with a team-high 10 rebounds. Hill and Taylor both scored 11 points and Maring added nine. Taylor had five assists while Hill had two steals.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Williams has been in double figures seven times this season. Hill has scored in double figures 15 times this season, eight times in MWC action. Plumer has scored in double figures 12 times, including eight MWC games. He had a career-high 10 rebounds for his first collegiate double-double. Taylor has been in double digits 13 times this season. Monmouth was 9-for-19 from 3-point range. Monmouth has swept the season series two years in a row. Monmouth is 7-3 in the last 10 against Knox overall and 18-6 under coach Skrivseth. The Scots lead the all-time series 136-93 and are 8-4 in Galesburg under Skrivseth. Monmouth returns home Saturday for the final home game of the regular season against Ripon. The game starts at 3 p.m. with a pregame Senior Day ceremony,