NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., December 20, 2018 – Fueled by a 55-31 advantage in the second half, the Monroe College Mustangs JV men's basketball team defeated Metro-BDA by a score of 93-73 Thursday evening in American Independent Post Grad and Collegiate Conference (AIPGCC) action at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs improve to 7-3 overall and 4-0 in conference play, while the Wolves drop to 18-2 and 1-1 in the AIPGCC.
 
Thursday's contest got off to a back-and-forth start, seeing both teams knotted up at 18 points apiece at the 11:11 mark of the first half. Metro-BDA then went on a 7-1 run to take a 25-19 lead on the Mustangs. The lead reached 10 points for the Wolves by the 6:39 mark, but the Mustangs began to chip away at the deficit with five straight points. The Wolves' lead grew back to nine at 42-33 with just 1:27 left in the half, but the Mustangs closed things out with a layup by Kevin Benjamin Jr. and a three by Anthony Monti, sending the game to the half with the Wolves on top, 42-38.
 
Benjamin led the Mustangs with nine points at the break, while Monti added eight points and a team-high four assists. Kaynaan Longley picked up a team-leading five rebounds while adding four points.
 
The Mustangs had the momentum to open the second half, opening the new frame on an 18-2 run to grab a 56-44 lead. Savion Thousand made a three to halt the momentum momentarily, but Isaiah Allen-Smith executed a three-point play to push the lead back to 12. Thousand came right back down the court and made another three, and hit a layup on the next possession to get the Wolves back within seven with 13:07 left in the second half.
 
Benjamin stayed hot for Monroe, sinking a tough layup to give Monroe a nine-point edge. Monti followed with another layup to push the lead back to 11. The Wolves cut it back down to seven with 7:41 to play, but a 7-0 run later in the half put the Mustangs ahead, 81-68. The Mustangs held strong the rest of the way to pick up the 20-point victory.
 
Benjamin led the Mustangs with 23 points, adding four assist and four rebounds in the win. Monti added 17 points and a team-high eight assists. Allen-Smith finished with 16 points and five boards, while Burton completed a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
 
The Mustangs return to action on Saturday, Dec. 22, when they visit CNC Leadership Prep for another AIPGCC matchup. Tip-off is set for 1 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).