New Rochelle, N.Y. – Every team needs a defining win to show where the season is headed.  For the Monroe College men's basketball team, that victory may have come on Tuesday afternoon, when, without their leading scorer, using a team effort, the Mustangs upset nationally ranked Three Rivers College, 103-98, to cap off the Monroe Holiday Classic with a 2-0 record.  The team improved to 13-4 overall.
 
The Mustangs had a seemingly uphill battle against the Raiders on Tuesday, as they entered the game without the injured Will Tavares, who hurt his ankle in the previous game.  The 13-2 Three Rivers side was ranked 22^nd in the nation and sported just two losses on the season.
 
Things got off to an auspicious start for Monroe as Hampus Ahlin opened the game with a three-pointer.  Two minutes later, trailing 4-3, Lukas Landgren dribbled through the paint, drew the defense and dished to Shackquiel Scott for a thunderous dunk.  Monroe led 5-4.  From there, Three Rivers used an 11-3 run to take a 15-8 lead.

The Mustangs responded when Tyler Ancrum penetrated, found Ran Tut, who passed it to Scott for another dunk that brought the crowd to its feet.  Monroe trailed 15-10.  Later in the half, down 18-14,  Ahlin slashed through the line and found Felix Carlsson for a wide-open baseline jumper that pulled the Mustangs within two points.
 
Like any good team, the Raiders responded and pushed the lead back out to eight points, 33-25 with 4:17 remaining.  Monroe countered with a three from Ahlin.  The Swede scored a team-high 23 points on 5-of-9 three-pointers.  The Raiders led at the half, 48-41.
 
Ahlin opened the scoring in the second half with a turnaround jumper.  On the subsequent possession, Scott cut into the lane, got a steal, led a three-on-one break and went coast-to-coast for the easy two.  Monroe trailed 48-45, with 19:10 left in the half.
 
Three Rivers turned on the accelerator from there and pushed their advantage to as many as 11 points.  Then, with 6:13 left, Scott made his presence known once again.  Trailing 74-68, Ahlin slashed through the paint and drew the defense close to him, he passed to a wide open Scott for the layup.  The Mustangs trailed 74-70 with 6:13 left.
 
Less than two minutes later and trailing by a point, Tyler Ancrum used his quick feet to secure a steal and find a cutting Ran Tut, who quickly passed to Ahlin for a layup that put Monroe ahead, 76-75.  Scott followed shortly thereafter with a layup and the lead was three.  At the 3:29 mark, the Mustangs had a play that underscored the team effort they put in to capture the victory.
 
Off a missed Three Rivers shot, Carlsson dove to the ground to battle a Raiders player for a rebound.  Scott saw this and quickly ran to the nearest official and called a timeout, keeping possession with Monroe.  Off the respite, Ancrum nailed a jumper with 3:20 left to put the Mustangs up five.
 
Inside of three minutes came another key play.  The Raiders play started driving from the perimeter and Ancrum stepped in and picked up the charge.  The change of possession led to a bucket from Scott to make the lead 82-75 for Monroe.  The Raiders would hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to even the score at 85-all and force overtime.
 
In the extra session, Ahlin broke the tie with a trifecta that put Monroe up, 90-87.  Ancrum and Ahlin sealed the game late by nailing their free throws.  Monroe won 103-98 and improved to 13-4 on the season.
 
Ancrum had his best game of the season, totaling 17 points and a game-high six assists.  He also had two steals.  Scott was 8-11 en route to 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds.  Ran Tut, in his second start of the season, recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out.  Finally, Carlsson had 11 points on 5-10 shooting.
 
The Monroe College men's basketball team returns to action on Saturday, January 9, when they compete at the CCRI Invitational in Rhode Island.  The start time is slated for 3:00 PM.