NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., January 20, 2018 – In a back-and-forth contest that came down to the wire, the Monroe College men's basketball team dropped an 83-76 decision to Niagara County Community College in the Mustangs' opener in the Monroe College MLK Classic at the Monroe Athletic Complex. Monroe falls to 12-9 with the loss, while the Thunderwolves improve to 12-6.
 
The early portion of the first half saw both teams hit threes left and right. The Thunderwolves hit the first two of the game, but Thomas Binelli responded with one of his own. Niagara then hits two more to take a 12-3 lead. Binelli later drained another to get the Mustangs back within four. Clifton Tracey hit a long ball to get Monroe within three at 14-11, but Niagara's Dytanya Mixson immediately followed with another to go back up by six.
 
Jhery Matos followed with his first three of the game, sparking an eight-point run for the Mustangs that finished with another trey by Matos to put Monroe ahead by two. Mike Pollard then hit a three for Niagara, followed by another for Mixson to give the Thunderwolves a four-point edge. Tracey nailed another three, and then Ebrima Jassey Demba drew a foul, making both shots to put the Mustangs ahead by one.
 
With Niagara County back up by one, Donel Cathcart made yet another three for the Thunderwolves to make it a four-point game. The visitors then hit three free throws to go up by seven. Clythus Griffith made two from the charity stripe to cut the deficit to five with two minutes left in the half, but Laterrance Reed hit another three for Niagara County to put the away team up by eight. Matos made the last basket of the half, a long three from the far side of the court, to leave Monroe down, 37-32, heading into the break.
 
Niagara County opened the second half with three-straight threes to take a 46-32 lead. Monroe Responded by scoring 10 of the next 12 points to cut the deficit back down to six. Cathcart hit another three for the Thunderwolves, but Monroe went on an 11-3 run to make it a one-point game. Monroe tied the game shortly after on a three by Clifton Tracey, making it a 56-56 game with 11:52 on the clock.
 
After a timeout, Niagara scored six straight points. A few minutes later, Monroe turned the tables with an 8-0 run, which led to a 14-3 run, giving the Mustangs a 70-68 lead with four minutes to play.
 
A three by Niagara's Najee Scott put the visitors back in the lead, but Binelli made a pair of free throws to put Monroe back ahead by one. Cathcart made a layup to take the lead back for the Thunderwolves, and then Scott hit another three to make it a four-point game. Burkley made a long jumper to get Monroe back within two, but Cathcart hit another three to go up by five. Jassey Demba was then fed perfectly under the hoop by Matos, and made a tough layup to make it a three-point game, but Cathcart made a pair of free throws shortly after to make it a five-point game, and later scored on a steal to wrap things up.
 
Matos led the Mustangs with 21 points, adding eight rebounds. Binelli totaled 19 points, including a team-best five three-pointers. Tracey added 13 points and five boards. Jassey Demba contributed five points, six boards and four assists.
 
The Mustangs will finish their weekend on Sunday, Jan. 21, with their last contest of the Monroe College MLK Classic against Erie Community College at the Monroe Athletic Complex. Tip-off is set for 2 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).