New Rochelle, N.Y. – The Monroe College men's basketball team sent its sophomores out with a 68-60 win over Lackawanna in a game played in New Rochelle on Saturday.  The even sophomores honored in their final home game were Will Tavares, Lawahn Lewis, Taquan Givens, Marcellas Anderson, Ran Tut, Lukas Landgren and Shackquiel Scott.
 
Coach Brustad eschewed the now too frequent 'hockey lines' for the notion of starting five sophomores in their final home contest, and the idea generated dividends early on as Tavares opened the scoring with a three-point-play and Scott added a  bucket shortly thereafter.   Up 5-4, Monroe got baskets from Givens and Scott and led 10-4, barely three minutes into action.  The Falcons got back to within three, but the Mustangs pushed the lead to double digits on a couple of foul shots from Tut at 9:57.  The Lead got as high as 15 on a Lewis layup and Monroe led at halftime, 35-24.
 
Lackawanna slowly fought back in the second half, pulling within a couple of points when a basket with 4:32 left made the score 55-53, Monroe.  The Mustangs responded with six straight points to remove any doubts about the outcome.  Hampus Ahlin nailed a jumper and Scott scored a pair of buckets and Monroe led 61-53.  Lackawanna got within five, but Monroe made their foul shots down the stretch and held on for a 68-60 win.
 
In his final home game, Tavares totaled 19 points and 12 rebounds.  Scott added 14 on 7-12 shooting.  The Monroe College men's basketball team closes out its regular season on Tuesday against Globe on the road.