NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., March 10, 2019 – The Monroe College Mustangs JV men's basketball is heading to the 2019 American Independent Post Grad and Collegiate Conference (AIPGCC) Championship game for the first time, as the No. 2-seeded Mustangs defeated No. 6 Prestige Preparatory Academy on Sunday, 72-47, at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs will take on top-seeded Our Saviour Lutheran, who defeated The Robinson School in overtime on Sunday.
 
Both teams struggled to score early in the first half, seeing the Mustangs hold a 13-10 lead through the first 10 minutes. A 9-2 run for the Mustangs then made it a 22-12 game, but the Patriots quickly cut it back down to five. It was a seven point game with a minute left to play in the first, but the Mustangs closed out the half with the final five points to take a 34-22 lead into the break.
 
Javaughn Daniel led the Mustangs with 10 points at the half, adding a team-high seven rebounds. Anthony Monti picked up six points and two assists.
 
The Mustangs steadily improved upon their lead early in the second half, going up, 40-24, with 16:23 on the clock. A six-point run shortly after made it a 21-point game. The lead reached 24 points when Daniel made a free throw with 7:23 remaining, leaving the Mustangs up, 56-32. The lead later reached 31 points after a 10-0 run, putting Monroe on top, 68-37, with 3:16 to play. The Mustangs kept their distance the rest of the way to win by 25 and advance to Monday's championship game.
 
Daniel registered a double-double in the win, leading the Mustangs with 15 points and 10 rebounds, as well as a team-high three assists. Aaron Burton and Javandre House each added 12 points, while Burton pulled down eight boards and House led the team with four steals. Kaynaan Longley added 10 rebounds off the bench.
 
The Mustangs will look to dethrone defending conference champion Our Saviour Lutheran on Monday, March 11, at the Monroe Athletic Complex in the AIPGCC Championship Finals. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 29 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 nine varsity and junior varsity 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).