HAGERSTOWN, Md., November 30, 2019 – Led by a 29-point, 11-rebound performance by Jeremiah Kendall, as well as an incredibly efficient shooting effort by Zion Styles, the Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team staved off a late comeback by host Hagerstown Community College for an 82-81 victory on the first day of the Jim Brown Classic. The Mustangs improve to 5-2 overall with the win, while the Hawks drop to 4-4.
 
Kendall turned in his best scoring output of the season, scoring 29 points to go with 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. He added a pair of assists and a pair of blocks. Styles shot 83.3 percent (10-of-12) from the field, made both of his shots from three-point range and sank both of his attempts from the free-throw line to finish with 24 points.
 
The Mustangs got off to a hot start, taking a quick 9-0 lead on the Hawks, including five points by Juan Felix Rodriguez and a game-opening three by Styles. A trey by Ja'mani Eaton pushed Monroe's lead to 14-4 with 14:12 still left in the first half.
 
Monroe led by 10 once again later in the half when Marcus Thompson hit a pair of foul shots to make it a 25-15 game with 7:44 left in the half. The Hawks then caught some momentum, going on a 13-3 run to tie the game at 28-28. The Mustangs and Hawks traded baskets until the final seconds of the half when Styles scored four straight points to leave Monroe up, 37-33, heading into the break.
 
Styles led the Mustangs with 11 points at the half. Kendall had eight points and six boards through 20 minutes of play. Rodriguez added nine points, five rebounds and five assists.
 
The game was tight early in the second half, with the Mustangs hanging on to a 51-49 lead with 12:48 on the clock. Six straight points gave Monroe an eight-point advantage, which turned into a 10-point lead when a dunk by Kendall capped off a 10-2 run to make it a 61-51 game. The Mustangs then pushed their lead all the way to 12 at 68-56 with 6:07 left in regulation.
 
Monroe's lead grew to 13 with just 3:05 to play on a three by Styles. The Hawks scored the next four points, but a layup by Kendall halted the short run to keep Monroe up by 11. The Hawks responded with another six straight points to get within five, but a dunk by Styles put the Mustangs back up by seven with 46 seconds remaining. A Mustang foul allowed Dwight Felton to make a pair of free throws and make it a five-point game again. The Mustangs then turned it over, leading to a layup by Rodney Black to cut Monroe's lead to three. Elijah Mitchell made the first of two free throws to keep Monroe up by four with 10 seconds left. Felton made a three-pointer with a second left on the clock, but it was only enough to get the Hawks within one, allowing Monroe to hang on for the 82-81 win.
 
Rodriguez finished with a double-double of his own in the win, nearly registering a triple-double with 11 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. He also added two steals to match Styles for the team lead. Thompson picked up eight points and five boards in 16 minutes off the bench.
 
The Mustangs shot 50 percent from the field (29-of-58) in the win, as well as 50 percent from three-point range (5-of-10). The Mustangs overcame a 27-17 deficit on points off turnovers by outscoring the Hawks in the paint, 40-32, and on second-chance points, 14-9.
 
The Mustangs wrap up their weekend at the Jim Brown Classic on Sunday, Dec. 1, when they take on Allegany College of Maryland in a rematch from last year's District Championship. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 31 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 12 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).