Preview: North Carolina A&T at Monmouth

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. (Interstat) — Two teams riding the momentum of crucial conference wins will meet Thursday when the Monmouth Hawks host the North Carolina A&T Aggies in a Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball matchup.

The game, scheduled for Jan. 29, 2026, at the Multipurpose Activity Center, features teams with nearly identical records seeking consistency. Monmouth (10-11 overall) sits just a game above North Carolina A&T (9-10) in the standings.

The Aggies arrive having won two straight, including an 80-73 victory over Towson on Saturday. That win was fueled by a standout performance from guard Lewis Walker, who scored 33 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished four assists. Walker has been a dynamic but inconsistent scorer, posting two 33-point games in his last five outings but also being held to five and six points in losses during that stretch.

Monmouth counters with its own versatile threat in Jason RiveraTorres, who is coming off a triple-double performance in an 88-73 road win at Campbell. RiveraTorres tallied 19 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in that contest, showcasing his all-around game. He has recorded double-doubles in two of his last five games and scored 30 points in a Jan. 10 overtime loss to Hofstra.

The Hawks have shown resilience at home recently, with wins over Northeastern and William & Mary earlier this month. North Carolina A&T’s road form has been less steady, with recent double-digit losses at Hampton and William & Mary.

The matchup hinges on which team’s star can deliver a more complete performance. If Walker finds his scoring touch early, the Aggies have proven they can win tight games, as seen in their 79-78 win over Hofstra last week. However, RiveraTorres’s ability to impact the game in multiple facets – scoring, rebounding and playmaking – presents a unique challenge for the visiting defense.

Both teams will look to build conference positioning before entering the final stretch of February. Following this contest, Monmouth hosts Hofstra on Saturday, while North Carolina A&T travels to face Drexel.