New Rochelle, N.Y. – Monroe College's Men's Basketball team won its fourth straight game Thursday night with a 101-69 victory over Mercer County College at home. The 101 points marked the highest point total for the Mustangs all season.
 
The first three minutes of the game underscored the strength of both teams, with just a single basket scored by Monroe's Dani Koljanin in the first minute of play. Hampus Ahlin sank a jumper inside of 17 minutes and the Mustangs were up 4-0. The Eagles were held without a bucket for the first 3:50 of game time.
 
Mercer rebounded, pushing the score to 13-8 with 11 minutes left. Damont Kearse Jr., newly promoted from the JV squad, gave Monroe a 22-21 lead with a three-pointer inside of seven minutes left. Mercer answered immediately and regained the lead with a trifecta of its own. Kearse hit another one, and the two teams fought back-and-forth. The game was tied at 26-all with 4:04 left.
 
The final four minutes of the half saw the Mustangs pull ahead, 35-30, courtesy of a 9-4 run. The nine points came from Bryan Assie (five) Clifton Tracey (two) and Koljanin (two).
 
The first 3:58 of the second half saw Monroe push the lead to 11, at 47-36, causing Mercer to use a timeout. The 12-6 run featured a steal from Felix Carlsson, a pair of assists from Tyler Ancrum, and seven points from Hampus Ahlin.
 
Another Carlsson steal led to an easy bucket from Ahlin, giving Monroe a 51-38 lead. A basket from Koljanin increased the score to 53-38 at 13:40. The advantage for the Mustangs went to 18 points on a thunderous dunk by Jarron Champon with 9:19 left that put them up 69-51.
 
The final 9:19 saw Monroe outscore the Eagles, 32-18. Gueye made the advantage 30 points on a basket from Kearse that pushed the score 86-56 at 5:17. Jeremy Betjol put Monroe up 91-58 with 4:23 remaining on an assist from Gueye. The 33-point cushion was the largest lead of the game for the Mustangs, who went on to win, 101-69.
 
Four Mustangs reached double-figures in the win, led by 14 from Koljanin. Ahlin and Kearse each totaled 11 and Betjol had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. He also added three blocks.
 
The 101 point total is the highest output of the season. The previous high was 89, achieved in a game against Harcum. The Mustangs have won five-in-a-row, giving them a 14-5 record for the season.
 
The team plays on Saturday at 5:00 against Valley Forge Military Academy in the Monroe Community College tournament.