New Rochelle, N.Y. – The Monroe College Men's Basketball team got a spirited effort from freshman Donald Butler, even as the team lost all three games at the Monroe College Classic this weekend. The Mustangs lost to Baltimore City Community College in overtime, 87-82, were bested by College of Central Florida, 72-69 and dropped the finale to Eastern Florida State College, 65-55.
 
Facing Baltimore City on Thursday, Monroe trailed 39-31 at the half, but rallied to tie the game on a Dani Koljanin three-pointer with 16:17 left. The Mustangs took the lead on their ensuing possession when Christopher Burkley made a jump shot. A Hampus Ahlin three-pointer with 12:05 left gave them their largest lead of the game, nine points, at 55-46.
 
Baltimore City rallied and regained a seven-point lead with 5:41 left. Monroe answered with an 8-0 run, capped by a Will Martinez three-pointer. A pair of Bryan Assie foul shots inside of a minute put the Mustangs up, 73-68. The Panthers rallied to tie the score and force overtime. Monroe scored first in the extra time, but Baltimore City regained the lead and went on to win 87-82.
 
Butler came off the bench against the Panthers to finish with five points in just nine minutes of action. Koljanin scored a game-high 29 points in the loss, with 5-10 from the three-point line. Martinez came off the bench and contributed ten points.
 
On Friday, Monroe faced Central Florida in another close tilt that came down to the final seconds. Once again, the Mustangs fell behind in the first half, trailing at the break, 42-36. Koljanin scored the first five points of the second half and Monroe was within one, 42-41. A Butler three-point play at 12:35 gave the Mustangs the lead, 50-49. Clifton Tracey added a three at 9:23 and Monroe was up two. The Patriots came back and took the lead again, forcing the Mustangs to play catchup. Monroe got as close as three, but were unable to tie the score again, and Central Florida won, 72-69.
 
Butler finished with 13 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the charity stripe. Tracey added a dozen and Koljanin led the team with 15.
 
The final game of the weekend saw Monroe fall to Eastern Florida, 65-55. Unlike the first two games of the weekend, Monroe took the early lead against the Titans, a top-ten team entering the tournament. A three ball from Felix Carlsson and a basket from Mouhamadou Gueye gave the Mustangs a 7-3 lead. Eastern Florida rallied and took the lead inside of five minutes left in the half. Neither side scored in the final 2:13 as the Titans led at the break, 22-18. Monroe fought hard in the second half, but could never regain the lead. The Titans went on to win, 65-55.
 
Butler led the team with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting. Gueye grabbed a game-high ten rebounds. Tyler Ancrum picked up five steals.
 
With the three losses, the team is now 7-4 on the season. They will return to action on Tuesday, December 6th, hosting Harford Community College at 7:00 PM.