BRYN MAWR, Pa., February 14, 2019 – For the second straight season, the Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team will host the Region XV Division I Championship, as the Mustangs clinched the region's top seed with an 85-76 victory at Harcum College on Thursday. Monroe claims the season series with the Bears and improves to 20-5 overall, as well as 3-0 in region play, while Harcum drops to 20-7 and 1-2.
 
The Mustangs fell into a quick 5-0 hole on Thursday, but a 16-2 run for the Mustangs that included four three-pointers immediately followed to give them a 16-7 advantage at the 16:27 mark. Another pair of long balls by Zion Styles and Thomas Binelli pushed Monroe's lead for 14 points, while another from Binelli shortly after made it a 27-12 game with 13:49 still left to play in the first half.
 
A scoring drought for the Mustangs saw the home team get back within nine, but a three by Mouhamadou Gueye pushed the lead right back to 12. By the 7:01 mark, Harcum cut the deficit to six points, but the Mustangs responded with a 7-2 run to go back up by 11 with just over five minutes left in the half. A 41-34 advantage later turned into a 50-34 lead for the Mustangs after another run. The Mustangs then capped off the half with the final four points, taking a 54-35 advantage into the break.
 
Styles led the Mustangs with 15 points at the half. Binelli was close behind with 14 points, while Lovro Bulesic was the third Mustang in double figures at 12 points. Juan Felix Rodriguez led the team with seven rebounds and six assists through 20 minutes. Monroe shot 9-of-18 from three-point range in the first half to contribute to its big lead.
 
The Mustangs' lead peaked at 21 points early in the second frame. After holding a 60-39 lead, the Mustangs went cold, allowing Harcum to go on a 16-2 run and cut the deficit to seven points with 11:51 on the clock. The Mustangs were able to maintain this gap until another run for the Bears made it a four-point game with just 4:59 left to play.
 
Rodriguez and Will Martinez helped keep the Mustangs on top by scoring each of the Mustangs' next 12 points and pushing their lead back to 10 with 1:05 on the clock. The defense settled down for the Mustangs, holding the Bears to just six points over the final 98 seconds while doing what they needed to on offense to close out the nine-point victory.
 
Binelli and Martinez finished with a team-high 16 points apiece in the win. Binelli just missed a double-double after securing a team-best nine rebounds. Rodriguez flirted with a triple-double with 11 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Styles finished with 15 points and led the team with four steals. Bulesic added 14 points and six boards. Monroe's 11 three-pointers in the win matched their season high.
 
The Mustangs get back to work on Saturday, Feb. 16, when they host Union County College at the Monroe Athletic Complex. 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 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).