NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., January 18, 2018 – The Monroe College men's basketball team dropped an 85-69 decision to Harcum College Thursday evening at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs fall to 12-8 on the year with the defeat, while Harcum improves to 13-5.
 
The Mustangs got off to a quick start, as Jhery Matos immediately netted a three off of Bryan Assie's tip-off win. Assie then got himself to the line, making both shots to give Monroe an early 5-0 edge. Harcum then swung the momentum in its favor, going on a 13-2 run to claim a 13-7 advantage. Another 10-point run moments later put the visitors ahead, 23-10.
 
Monroe then began to chip away at the deficit, as a 13-point hole dropped to nine points with 9:30 left in the half. Harcum later took its largest lead of the half at 41-23 after scoring seven straight with 3:43 left until halftime. Monroe found a rhythm late, scoring 10 of the final 13 points to draw within 11 at 44-33 as the game went into the break.
 
Six straight point early in the second half put Harcum back up by 15 points. Shortly after, the Mustangs forced themselves back in the game with a 13-0 run, leaving Harcum up, 55-51, with 12:35 left in regulation.
 
A timeout helped Harcum regain its rhythm, allowing the Bears to score 8 of the next 11 points to take a nine-point advantage. The lead grew to 13 with 5:37 to play, but the Mustangs tallied four in a row to get within single digits. Seven straight for the Bears made it a 16-point game late in the frame, allowing the visitors to hang on for the win.
 
Matos led all scorers with 28 points on the, while also adding a game-high five steals. Assie registered a double-double with 13 points and 15 boards. Thomas Binelli netted eight points and added eight rebounds.
 
The Mustangs will play next on Saturday, Jan. 20, when they host the Monroe College MLK Classic at the Monroe Athletic Complex, a four-team men's and women's tournament. Monroe will open the weekend on Saturday against Niagara County Community College at 4 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, 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).