NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., January 19, 2019 – In a gritty contest at the Monroe Athletic Complex, the Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team came out on top of a 92-83 decision against Erie Community College on the first day of the Monroe College MLK Classic on Saturday. The Mustangs improve to 16-5 on the year with the win, while Erie suffers its first loss to fall to 13-1.
 
Erie looked to grab the early momentum with a three by Ahamadou Fofana just 19 seconds into the game. The Mustangs responded with the next six points, later going on another 8-0 run to take a 14-7 advantage. The Kats rallied back to tie the game at 18-18, but the Mustangs retained control from there to take a 30-22 edge. An 8-0 run for the Mustangs then put them ahead, 38-25. After Monroe led, 44-32, Erie closed out the half with the final five points to send the game to the break with Monroe ahead, 44-37.
 
Both teams went back-and-forth early on in the second half, but the Mustangs were able to build upon their lead and take a 56-45 advantage at the 16:39 mark. Five straight points for the Kats brought them back within six, but the Mustangs rattled off another eight in a row to go up, 64-50.
 
The Kats later scored eight straight points to get back within nine at 75-66, but three free throws by Will Martinez and one more for Thomas Binelli put Monroe back up by 13. Shortly after, five straight points for the Kats made it a seven-point game at 81-74 with 2:41 left on the clock. The Mustangs remained composed, later using four straight points to go up, 90-79, with just 43 seconds left. Both teams managed to score in the final seconds, but the Mustangs held on to win, 92-83
 
Martinez led the Mustangs with 24 points after shooting 10-of-12 on the afternoon. Binelli followed with 18 points, including a trio of three-pointers. Juan Felix Rodriguez filled up the stat sheet with 10 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals and a block.
 
The Mustangs' contest against Westchester Community College scheduled for Sunday has been canceled due to travel concerns with the incoming winter storm. The Mustangs will instead play next on Thursday, Jan. 24, when they visit Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pa. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 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).