Bel Air, Md. – A Ran Tut tip-in off of a Taquan Givens missed layup in the closing seconds of action lifted the Monroe College men's basketball team to a 63-61 win over Harford in a game played in Bel Air, Maryland on Thursday.  The team improved to 15-7 overall on the season.
 
The Fighting Owls jumped out to a 5-2 lead early.  After a Shackquiel Scott jumper and Tyler Ancrum layup, the game was tied at 6-6.  From there, Harford seized control and took the lead until the 4:53 mark of the half when a Hampus Ahlin free throw put Monroe up, 22-20.  The lead went back and forth from there for the remainder of the half.  The Fighting Owls led by one at the break.
 
Givens put Monroe up one early in the second half with a slashing layup barely 0:30 into action.  A thunderous dunk from Scott a minute later put the Mustangs up by three, but Harford tied the game.  From there, five straight points from Givens put Monroe up 40-35, with 15:12 left in the half.  The lead lasted nearly five minutes until the Fighting Owls went ahead by one with 10:16 on the clock.
 
Monroe then got hot and used a 13-4 run to take a 59-51 lead.  The scoring spree was keyed by seven points from Marcellas Anderson, two points from Givens and four points from Scott.  The outburst put Monroe up 59-51 with 6:17 remaining.
 
Harford responded over the last six minutes by erasing the lead and eventually knotting the score at 61-all with 0:16 left.  From there, Tut got the tip-in off the Givens miss and the Mustangs escaped with a 63-61 victory.
 
In the win, Scott led the team with 14 points and eight rebounds.  Givens finished with 11.  Ahlin totaled eight points on 3-6 shooting.  The Monroe College men's basketball team returns to action on Tuesday, January 26, when they host Globe Tech at 6:00 PM.