NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., January 27, 2018 – After holding off a late comeback, the Monroe College men's basketball team defeated Woodstock Academy by a score of 96-90 Saturday afternoon at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs improve to 13-10 on the season with the win, while Woodstock falls to 14-7.
 
The Centaurs held an early advantage over the Mustangs with some timely three-point shooting. Woodstock led by five points at the 11:47 mark before the Mustangs turned things around.
 
Monroe went on a 10-0 run, taking a 29-24 advantage with 7:17 left in the first half. Clifton Tracey then caught fire, making a pair of threes a couple tough jumpers to put the Mustangs up, 39-30. Late in the half, Tracey hit yet another three to make it a 12-point game. Gedi Juozapaitis hit a pair of long balls for the Centaurs down the stretch, leaving the Mustangs on top, 50-42, heading into the break.
 
Early in the second half, the Mustangs put together a seven-point run, including threes by Deins Bergis and Thomas Binelli, to go up by 14. The Centaurs started to rally back midway through the period after going on a 10-4 run to make it a nine-point game. Monroe quickly pushed its lead back to 13 points, but Woodstock turned it right back around, cutting the deficit to four points with under five minutes to play.
 
With the lead down to just three points, Jhery Matos earned a three-point play after making a layup through contact. He made the ensuing free throw to push Monroe's lead back to six with 3:07 left in regulation.
 
Five straight for the Centaurs made it a one-point game with 1:58 on the clock, but Matos kept the Mustangs ahead with a pair of free throws. Binelli then made a clutch three with 1:05 remaining to improve Monroe's lead to 90-84. Juozapaitis later made it a 91-88 game after a layup, but Bryan Assie took the momentum back with a wide open slam dunk to make it a five-point game. Christopher Burkley made it a seven-point Mustang lead with a pair of free throws, but EJ Dambreville cut it back to five after making a layup for Woodstock. Burkley was sent to the line one more time, making one-of-two to reach the final score of 96-90.
 
Binelli finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double on Saturday. Tracey netted 15 points off the bench, including a trio of three-pointers. Assie added 11 points and eight boards. Damont Kearse and Nukoy Singleton matched with a team-high five assists.
 
The Mustangs will play next on Thursday, Feb. 1, when they visit Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, Pa. Thursday's tip-off is slated for 7 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).