NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., December 8, 2018 – With a 10-point advantage in the second half, the Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team defeated previously undefeated Macomb Community College by a score of 80-63 on Day 1 of the Monroe College Roundball Classic on Saturday at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs improve to 7-4 on the season, while Macomb falls to 6-1.
 
The Mustangs got off to a slow start, making their first basket four minutes into the game when Thomas Binelli made a jumper to make it a 6-4 game in favor of Macomb. Binelli followed shortly after with a three to give Monroe its first lead of the evening. Juan Felix Rodriguez made a layup on the next possession to put the Mustangs ahead, 9-6.
 
The scoring picked up from there, seeing the Mustangs go up, 21-16, with 10:26 left in the half. The Monarchs continued to keep it close, seeing the game reach a 38-34 score in favor of Monroe with just 2:37 remaining until the break. Six straight for Monroe pushed its lead to 10 points. Macomb's Dequann Powell made a three with 45 seconds left for the final points of the period, sending the game to the half with the Mustangs ahead, 45-38.
 
Elijah Mitchell and Will Martinez matched for a team-high 10 points at the break. Five different Mustangs had three rebounds after 20 minutes. Martinez and Rodriguez each dished out a pair of assists.
 
Monroe got off to another slow start in the second half, and Macomb's Matthew Richmond made a pair of threes to make it a one-point game. Martinez quickly got Monroe back on the board with a layup on the next possession to make it a 47-44 lead for the Mustangs. After the Monarchs got back within a point, Monroe scored nine straight to take a 56-46 advantage with 12:26 on the clock.
 
The run continued on a tip-in by Zion Styles, pushing the Mustang lead to 12 points. Styles made another layup a minute later to go up by 14 before Amier Gilmore sank a jumper for Macomb to make it a 60-48 game. The Mustangs got back on the run, making six free throws to take a 66-48 advantage with 8:41 left in regulation. Another four points for Monroe pushed the lead to 24 points with just over seven minutes to play.
 
Macomb's Tyler Davis hit a three with 3:07 on the clock to get the Monarchs within 19 points. A five-point run for the visitors made it a 15-point game with 1:51 left in the half. Deng Bol Yol closed things out with a pair of free throws to cap off the 17-point victory.
 
Martinez finished with a game-high 18 points for the Mustangs, adding four assists and four steals. Styles added 13 points, while Mitchell contributed 12 points. Bol Yol and Binelli matched for a team-high six rebounds.
 
The Mustangs wrap up the weekend on Sunday when they host Monroe Community College in the final game of the Monroe Roundball Classic at the MAC. The game is set to tip off at 2 p.m. following the Macomb vs. Lackawanna College matchup at 12 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).