New Rochelle, N.Y. – During the week at practice, Monroe Head Coach, Jeff Brustad charged his team with the task of increasing the defensive intensity and the Mustangs responded with an inspired defensive effort in a 70-59 loss to Monroe Community College in a game played in New Rochelle on Saturday.  Three Mustangs finished in double figures in scoring.
 
Early on, the Tribunes jumped out to a 12-4 lead.  From there, the Mustangs hit the boards hard and pressed defensive tempo by taking several charges.  Lukas Landgren took three charges in the first half.  The eight point lead was erased in 5:24 of game time when a Will Tavares layup completed the comeback and put Monroe ahead, 15-14.  The Mustangs never looked back from there, pushing the lead to ten points, when a Jarron Chapman tip-in put Monroe ahead, 34-24.  The score stayed that way into halftime.
 
MCC fought back in the second half and pulled within four points.  Monroe countered from there and pushed the lead back to ten points on a three-point-play from Felix Carlsson at 11:38 that made the score 49-39.  The game would be tied at 51-all with 6:04 remaining.  There would be two more ties before the Tribunes pulled away for the 70-59 win.
 
Shackquille Scott led Monroe with 11 points on 5-9 shooting.  He had a thunderous dunk that the brought the capacity  crowd to its feet.  Taquan Givens also finished with 11.  Landgren score ten points and grabbed seven rebounds.
 
The Monroe College men's basketball team returns to action on Sunday, November 22, when they host Hostos Community College.  The starting time for that contest is slated for 2:00 PM.