NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., November 30, 2017 – Fueled by Jhery Matos' first double-double with the Mustangs, the Monroe College men's basketball team took home a 77-69 decision over Harford Community College on Thursday in their first game of the Monroe College Invitational at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs improve to 5-3 overall, while the Fighting Owls drop to 4-3.
 
The Mustangs came out firing, as Thomas Binelli and Jhery Matos hit back-to-back threes to take a quick 6-0 lead in the opening minute. Matos then made a pair of free throws, followed later by one more by Bryan Assie, giving Monroe a 9-0 lead with 16:16 on the clock. Batur Sahinoz then scored the first two points for the Fighting Owls, followed by three consecutive free throws for the visitors, making it a 9-5 game.
 
Monroe started to heat up again when Isaiah Ward drained a three, and then slammed one down on a fast break shortly after to push the Mustang lead to nine. After Malik Jones made two free throws, the Mustangs took full control of the game, rattling off 18 straight points to go up, 32-7. A six-point run later in the half for Harford got the Fighting Owls back within 18, leaving the Mustangs ahead, 39-21, heading into the break.
 
The Fighting Owls opened the second frame on a 20-10 run to get back within eight with 10:35 left to play. Shortly after, the Mustang lead fell to five points, but Monroe turned it around to go back up by 11 with 6:47 on the clock. Late in the game, Harford rallied back within six with just 3:51 left, but a layup by Clythus Griffith, followed shortly after by two free throws by Griffith, as well as one more by Assie, pushed Monroe's lead back up to 12. The Mustang lead shrunk again in the final minute, with the Mustangs hanging on to a 74-69 advantage with 30 seconds remaining, but Matos made a pair of chances from the charity stripe, and Ward made one more, to help the Mustangs hang on for the eight-point win.
 
Matos finished up with 19 points and 11 rebounds for the double-double, adding a pair of steals. Griffith compiled 15 points off the bench, while Clifton Tracey picked up 11 points. Bryan Assie added 10 points and five boards, while Deng Bol Yol picked up eight rebounds and seven points.
 
The Mustangs continue play in the Monroe College Invitational on Friday, Dec. 1, when they host Cape Fear Community College in the third game of the day at 5 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 26 teams competing across nine sports. There are 18 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's rugby, and the newly added club women's rugby team, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, will have six teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level beginning in the fall of 2017.
 
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe College Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).