NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., December 9, 2017 – In the first-ever inter-campus matchup between the two programs, the Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team defeated the Monroe College Express by a score of 102-59 Saturday evening at the Monroe Athletic Complex as part of the Monroe College Roundball Classic. The Mustangs improve to 8-5 on the year with the win, while the Express drop to 2-9 overall.
 
The Mustangs opened the game on a 9-0 run with a three-point play by Jhery Matos, followed by back-to-back threes by Thomas Binelli and Matos. Jovan Bellamy scored the first points for the Express, but Isaiah Ward and Binelli responded with another pair of threes to make it an early 15-2 lead for the Mustangs. A pair of six-point runs for the Mustangs left them ahead, 33-16, with 8:20 left in the opening frame. The Express slowly chipped away at the deficit down the stretch, including nine points by Jessy Jimenez across the final 2:24, but the Mustangs took a 49-37 advantage into halftime.
 
The Mustangs turned up the heat in the second half, coming out of the gates with seven straight points to go up by 19. They led by that same 19 with 10:28 on the clock before going on an 11-2 run to take an 80-52 advantage. Later on, a 10-1 run pushed the Mustangs' lead to 39 at 95-56 with 2:49 left to play, eventually leading to the Mustangs' 43-point win.
 
Seven Mustangs reached double figures in Saturday's win, led by Isaiah Ward's 17. Bryan Assie finished a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards. Matos added 14 points, while Binelli picked up 13. Damont Kearse provided 12, while Lovro Bulesic tallied 11. Clifton Tracey added 10 more for the Mustangs. Nukoy Singleton tried just one shot in the game, but dished out a game-high nine assists.
 
The Express were led by Jovan Bellamy's 15 points and eight rebounds. Gian Batista and Jessy Jimenez both scored 14 points, adding five rebounds apiece. Julio Santos Paulino added 10 points and four assists off the bench.
 
The Mustangs will continue the Monroe College Roundball Classic on Sunday, Dec. 10, when they host Macomb Community College in Sunday's opening contest. Tip-off is slated for 12 p.m. at the Monroe Athletic Complex.
 
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, has six teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level as of 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).