NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., February 21, 2019 – Down by two at the half, Monroe Mustangs men's basketball outscored Covenant College Prep 49-23 in the second half, to pull away with a 83-59 victory on Thursday at the Monroe Athletic Complex
 
After a back-and-forth start that included three ties and four lead changes the Mustangs took a 21-19 and led for much of the first half. However, the Mustangs were never able to extend their lead past five, and Covenant College Prep closed to half on 15-8 run over the final 6:55 to take a two-point, 36-34, lead into the break.
 
Elijah Mitchell led the Mustangs with seven points at the half, while Monroe and Covenant College Prep combined for seven ties and six lead changes in the first half.
 
With a 10-0 to open the second half though, the Mustangs quickly took a 45-36 lead, holding Covenant College Prep scoreless for the first 6:24 of the second half. Zion Styles scored five points during the run, and highlighted Monroe's suffocating defense with an emphatic block to force a shot clock violation.
 
Covenant College Prep kept it close till the 12:33 mark, when the Mustangs went on another run, extending their lead out to double-digits for the first time with a 9-1 run, highlighted again by five points from Styles.
 
Up by 13 with 7:55 to play, Monroe pulled away with an 11-2 run over the next three minutes, taking a 20-point, 71-51 lead with just over five minutes to play.  
 
In total, the Mustangs outscored Covenant by 26 points in the second half and held Covenant College Prep to just 29.6 percent shooting, to earn the 83-59 victory.
 
Styles led the Mustangs with 21 points, scoring 19 of his 21 in the second half. Deng Bol Yol added 12 points and seven rebounds while Mouhamadou Gueye and Elijah Mitchell each tallied 10.
 
Monroe outscored Covenant College Prep, 44-18, in the paint while out-rebounding Covenant 38-33.
 
The Mustangs are back in action on Saturday, Feb. 23, when they host SUNY Sullivan JV at the Monroe Athletic Complex in the final game of the regular season. 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).