NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., February 9, 2019 – The Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team pushed its winning streak to eight games after defeating Hostos Community College by a score of 91-61 Saturday afternoon at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs improve to 19-5 on the season with the win, while the Caimans fall to 14-11.
 
The Mustangs took an early 5-4 advantage, following it up with a 9-0 run to go ahead, 14-4. The Caimans got back within six, but the Mustangs responded with seven straight to take a 23-10 edge. The Mustangs pushed their lead all the way to 18 points by the 4:36 mark of the first half after a three-pointers by Juan Felix Rodriguez. After a Hostos bucket, the Mustangs scored another 13 in a row to close out the half with a 51-22 lead.
 
Rodriguez led the Mustangs with 14 points at the half, as well as three assists. Elijah Mitchell added eight points, seven boards, four steals and three assists of his own. Thomas Binelli matched Mitchells' eight points.
 
A 10-4 run for the Mustangs to open the second half pushed the lead to 35 points less than three minutes into the new period. Hostos went on a 12-0 run after that, cutting the deficit to 23 points at 61-38 with 13:14 on the clock. After a timeout, the Mustangs scored six straight to go back up by 29, but the Caimans followed with nine in a row to make it a 20-point game with 9:29 to play.
 
The Mustangs responded with a 14-4 run to push their lead back to 30 points with 5:15 left in regulation. Hostos scored five straight, but the Mustangs scored the next four to keep a sizeable margin. Despite some momentum from the Caimans, the Mustangs held on to win by 30.
 
Rodriguez finished with a team-high 16 points, adding six rebounds and five assists. Elijah Mitchell did it all in the win, scoring 14 points, pulling down seven boards, dishing out six assists, picking up six steals and blocking a shot. Binelli, Deng Bol Yol and Will Martinez all finished with 11 points apiece, while Martinez added a team-high nine rebounds.
 
The Mustangs will hit the road on Thursday, Feb. 14, for one of the most crucial games left on their regular-season schedule. They will take on Harcum College in Region XV action in Bryn Mawr, Pa. with tip-off set 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).