BALTIMORE, Md., November 16, 2018 – In its first game at the Baltimore City Community College Legends Classic, the Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team defeated Northern Virginia Community College by a score of 78-46 on Friday. The Mustangs improve to 3-0 on the season, while Northern Virginia falls to 1-4.
 
The Mustangs got off to a solid start, going up 7-2 in the first three minutes. The Nighthawks were then able to tie the game, and the two teams played neck-and-neck until the Mustangs held a 17-15 edge with 8:47 left in the first half. Monroe then went on a 9-1 run to go up, 26-16, and kept their distance for the rest of the half to take a 32-24 lead into the break.
 
Mouhamadou Gueye had six points and six boards at the break, while Zion Styles matched his six points and picked up three steals. Daniel Cabassa came off the bench to lead the team with seven points, adding six rebounds across the first 20 minutes of the game.
 
The Mustangs pushed their lead out to 19 points early in the second half, opening the new period on a 15-4 run to go up, 47-28. That lead quickly grew to 29 when Lovro Bulesic finished a three-point play to give Monroe a 60-31 lead with 10:28 to play. It was all Mustangs from that point on, as they took their largest lead of the day after a layup by Amadou Camara put them up by 35 with 2:23 to go. The Nighthawks made a couple baskets in the final minute, but the Mustangs came away with a 32-point victory.
 
Thomas Binelli finished with 14 points off the bench to lead the Mustangs on Friday. Gueye scored 13 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked six points for a big game in the win. Martinez contributed nine points, eight boards and three assists. Cabassa finished with a team-high 10 rebounds to go with his seven points. Juan Felix Rodriguez led the team with six assists while adding six points.
 
The Mustangs shot 50 percent (33-of-66) from the field in the win, while holding their opponents to just 23.4 percent (18-of-77).
 
The Mustangs play again tomorrow, Nov. 17, when they take on Clinton College in the second day of the Baltimore City CC Legends Classic. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.
 
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).