NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., November 16, 2018 – The Monroe Mustangs JV men's basketball team defeated the New York International Academy Eagles, 84-70, in their home opener on Friday at the Monroe Athletic Complex. With the win, the Mustangs move to 1-2 (0-0 AIPGCC) on the season.
 
Anthony Monti gave the Mustangs an early lead all by himself, scoring the first 12 points of the game. The Eagles got on the scoreboard on Myles Erkins' jumper, but the Mustangs held onto a double-digit lead for the entirety of the first half.
 
Monti added two more in the half for 14 first half points, while Isaiah Allen-Smith scored 12 to bring the Mustangs out to a 42-26 second half lead.
 
Troy Tallman extended the Mustangs' lead to 44-26, scoring the first bucket of the second half, but the Eagles responded with a 9-0 run over the next 1:40, cutting the deficit down to single digits for the first time since early on in the first half.
 
A free throw by Aaron Burton and a layup by Kevin Benjamin Jr. extended the lead back to 10, but another Eagles run cut Monroe's to just four, 47-43.
 
However, it was the Mustangs who had a response this time, going on a 21-3 to pull ahead 68-46. The Eagles were never able to get within less than 10 points the rest of the way and Monroe cruised to an 84-70 victory, their first of the season.
 
Allen-Smith led the Mustangs with 26 points, while Monti added 19 points, three rebounds and two assists. Kaynaan Longley recorded a team-high 11 rebounds, while Aaron Burton fell a rebound shy of a double-double with 10 points and nine boards. Javaughn Daniel also tallied nine points and 10 rebounds, falling a point shy of his first career double-double.
 
The Mustangs are back in action on Saturday, Nov. 17 when they take on Herkimer County Community College JV at 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 27 teams competing across nine sports. There are 18 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus as of the fall of 2017, has seven teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
 
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).