TALLAHASSEE, Fla., December 28, 2018 – The Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team opened up play at the Tallahassee Democrat Holiday Classic on Friday with a 59-55 victory over Pensacola State College. The Mustangs improve to 9-4 on the season with the win, while the Pirates fall to 11-5.
 
The Mustangs fell into a hole early in the game, trailing 9-0 just over two minutes into the first half. The Pirates led by as many as 13 points, taking a 22-9 lead with 9:16 left in the half. The Mustangs then turned things around, going on a 15-4 run to get back within two points. After rallying back, the Mustangs trailed by just three at 29-26 heading into the break.
 
The Pirates took control once again early in the second half, going up, 38-29, with 15:36 left to play. The Mustangs caught fire after that point, scoring 10 straight points, including a pair of three-pointers by Thomas Binelli, to take a 39-38 advantage just two minutes later. A free throw by Pensacola State's Isaiah Williams tied the game up, but the Mustangs netted the next seven points to go up, 46-39, with 11:16 left in the second half.
 
The Pirates responded with six points in a row to once again make it a one-point game. Lovro Bulesic fired back with a three to push the Monroe lead back to four. The Mustangs held a 53-51 lead with 2:32 on the clock before Elijah Mitchell dropping in a layup to take a four-point lead. Some free throws put the Mustangs ahead by six, but a three by Yeikson Montero got the Pirates back within three with 15 seconds remaining. Will Martinez then made a free throw, and Montero missed a three with just five seconds left to end the game with Monroe on top.
 
Juan Felix Rodriguez and Mouhamadou Gueye shared the team lead with 12 points in the win. Binelli added 11 points. Will Martinez scored eight off the bench and dished out a team-high five assists. Daniel Cabassa picked up a team-leading seven rebounds.
 
The Mustangs will take on host Tallahassee Community College tomorrow, Dec. 29, in their final matchup of the Tallahassee Democrat Holiday Classic. Tip-off is slated for 2 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).