New Rochelle, N.Y. – To open the Men's Basketball game on Saturday, Hudson Sonnenstein, five-year-old son of Monroe's Dean of Student Services, Mark Sonnenstein, sang the national anthem to hearty applause. After that, the Monroe College Men's Basketball team drew the cheers in an 81-60 victory over Niagara County Community College. The team improved to 18-7 on the season in the win.
 
The game was even at 3-3 just 3:14 into action. From there, The Mustangs used a 12-2 run to take a 15-5 lead. The scoring spree was capped by a Jarron Chapman dunk and included baskets from Damont Kearse Jr. and Clifton Tracey. Monroe's advantage grew to 13 thanks to a Bryan Assie layup with 4:02 on the clock. The Mustangs led at the half, 36-27.
 
The Thunder Wolves used the first five minutes of the second half to nearly erase the entire deficit, pulling within four points, 40-36. They got no closer though, and eventually a couple of free throws from Dani Koljanin pushed the lead back to double digits. The largest lead of the game, 24 points, came on a Felix Carlsson layup inside of two minutes. Monroe won, 80-61.
 
Koljanin shot 5-10 and had a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds. Assie totaled 15 and 9, while Tracey scored 14 points, reaching double figures in scoring for his second-straight game.
 
The Monroe College Men's Basketball team will return to action on Tuesday, February 7^th, hosting ASA at 6:00 PM.