Bryn Mawr, Pa. – The Monroe College Men's basketball team faced Harcum this week, forcing the game into double overtime before ultimately taking a loss, 93-89.  The team is now 8-5 for the season.
 
Monroe got off to a strong start, scoring five of the first six points of the game. Christopher Burkley opened the game with a technical free throw.  After play began, Will Martinez and Felix Carlsson each made baskets, giving the Mustangs a 5-1 lead just two minutes into action.
 
With just over 11 minutes left in the half, Dani Koljanin made a pair of foul shots to put Monroe ahead, 14-13.  Harcum regained the lead from there and pushed their advantage to as many as nine points.  A three-pointer by Hampus Ahlin late in the first half made the score 30-27, but the Bears scored two more baskets and led at the break, 34-27.
 
Monroe opened the second half with a 7-0 run and knotted the score at 34-all. Carlsson scored, followed by Koljanin with five points. Harcum regained the lead and pushed it back to eight points.  
 
Trailing 46-38 with just under 15 minutes left, Monroe used an 11-2 run to take a one point lead.  Burkley, Koljanin, Carlsson and Martinez all had a basket.  Tyler Ancrum made a slashing layup off a steal and finished the run and made the score 49-48 with 9:26 left.  Harcum took another lead, getting as large as seven points, but a Koljanin foul shot inside of a minute tied the score at 62-62 and forced the first overtime.
 
Carlsson then put Monroe up by two, when he made a foul shot with 0:07 left.  Harcum's Milik Gantz was able to cut through the lane and make a buzzer-beater to even the score at 71-all and force the second overtime. Ahlin put Monroe ahead early in the second with a three-pointer, but Harcum controlled play and went on for the 93-89 win.
 
In the game, Koljanin led the team with 24 points.  Carlsson finished with 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting.  Bryan Assie came off the bench to score 13, while Ahlin added 10.
 
The Monroe College men's basketball team returns to action on Sunday, December 11, when they host Erie Community College at 3:00.