NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., November 7, 2019 – Juan Felix Rodriguez and Marcus Thompson each registered a double-double to help lift the Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team to a season-opening 99-71 victory over Bronx-campus counterparts, the Monroe College Express, Thursday evening at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs open the year at 1-0, while the Express fall to 1-1.
 
Rodriguez did plenty of everything for the Mustangs in the win, finishing with 16 points and team highs of 12 rebounds and six assists. Thompson came off the bench and played a big role for Monroe, totaling 10 points and 10 rebounds in his varsity debut.
 
The Mustangs quickly jumped out to a 6-0 lead after a three-pointer by Luis Herrera. Loquan Deloatch responded with a three for the Express, but Herrera made another three shortly after to give the Mustangs a 9-3 edge. With the Mustangs up, 13-7, Zion Styles went on a fast break and slammed it down to put Monroe up, 15-7. On the next possession, Elijah Mitchell stole the ball and led Styles for another fast break, resulting in an even more impressive slam dunk to send the crowd into a frenzy and force the Express to take a timeout, trailing 17-7.
 
The Mustangs were leading 20-12 with 12:48 left in the half before a 9-3 run by the Express got them within two points. The Mustangs jumped back out to a 28-21 lead, but the Express were able to chip away and get within three at 32-29 with 7:36 on the clock. The Mustangs then took full control, using a 7-0 run to turn a 43-36 lead into a 50-36 lead with a three by Mitchell to cap off the run. Kobe Daniels hit a three for the Express with 20 seconds left, sending the game to the half with a 50-39 score in favor of the Mustangs.
 
Jeremiah Kendall provided a spark off the bench and scored 12 points in the first half to lead the Mustangs. Styles added nine points, while Juan Felix Rodriguez added six points and three assists, while pulling down a team-high seven rebounds.
 
The Mustangs opened the second half on an 8-3 run to take a 58-42 advantage with 16:48 left in regulation. The Express then cut the deficit to 12 with an 8-4 run to make it a 62-50 game. The Mustangs later jumped out to a 69-52 lead, but the Express scored six straight to get within 11. The Mustangs responded with a 10-1 run, going up by 20 at 79-59 with 7:30 to play. The run continued for the Mustangs, as they went up by 25 points at 87-62 with 5:17 remaining. The Mustangs fell just short of the century mark, but wrapped things up with a 99-71 win.
 
Kendall finished with a team-high 18 points in the win. Styles and Mitchell each finished with 11 points, four assists and three steals. Julio Pascual added eight points, five assists and a team-high three blocks. Herrera led the team with a trio of three-pointers, finishing with 13 points and a pair of steals.
 
The Mustangs impressively shot 52.9 percent from the field (36-of-68) and made nearly 44 percent of their shots from beyond the arc (7-of-16). They held the Express to just 31.3 percent from the field (21-of-67) and forced 20 turnovers. The Mustangs dominated under the rim, outscoring the Express, 56-20, in the paint.
 
The Mustangs get the weekend off before hitting the road on Monday, Nov. 11, for a Veterans' Day afternoon matchup at Manor College in Jenkintown, Pa. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 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).