CUMBERLAND, Md., March 9, 2019 – The No. 23-ranked Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team's 14-game winning streak came to a dramatic end on Saturday, as the Mustangs fell in the NJCAA Div. I District 3 Championship game to host Allegany College of Maryland by a score of 83-81 at Bob Kirk Arena. The Trojans earn the district's automatic bid into the 2019 NJCAA Div. I Men's Basketball Championship tournament, while the Mustangs will now await a possible at-large bid. The Mustangs fall to 25-6 overall with the loss, while the Trojans improve to 20-11.
 
After a slow back-and-forth start, Zion Styles and Juan Felix Rodriguez drained back-to-back threes for the Mustangs to put them up, 10-6. That sparked a 10-0 run that put Monroe up by eight. The Mustangs later grabbed a nine-point edge, but a 12-2 run for the Trojans put them on top, 27-26, with 7:48 left in the half.
 
Rodriguez hit another three to put Monroe back in the lead, but seven straight for the home team put the Mustangs in a five-point hole. Monroe responded with the next 11 points to take a six-point lead, but the Trojans were able to get back within two after a three by Antoine Lewis with 48 seconds left. Thomas Binelli made a layup with 27 seconds left, leaving the Mustangs up, 44-40, at the half.
 
Rodriguez netted a team-high 12 points at the half and matched Will Martinez for the team lead in rebounds with six. Rodriguez also led with two steals and two assists. Zion Styles was next with 11 points, while Martinez picked up nine points in the first 20 minutes.
 
The Trojans quickly made it a one-point game early in the new half, but a layup by Rodriguez, followed by Lovro Bulesic's second three of the second half put Monroe back up by six. The Trojans then took control of the game, going on a 21-6 run to take a 69-60 lead with 10:22 on the clock. The Mustangs were able to get back within three, but six straight for the Trojans once again put the home team up by nine with 5:36 left in regulation.
 
Ebrima Jassey Demba responded with a three to get back within six, and then Styles made 1-of-2 from the line to make it a five-point game with 4:32 on the clock. Martinez was able to get to the line and made both chances to get the Mustangs within three points at 77-74 with 3:57 to go.
 
With 2:31 to play, a dunk by Demarcus Demonia put the Trojans up by five and looked to give them some big momentum, but Binelli silenced the crowd with a three just 17 seconds later to get the Mustangs within two at 81-79. The Mustangs were able to hold on defense, and Rodriguez later sank a layup with 53 seconds left to tie the game at 81-81. Demonia was then able to make a layup with 25 seconds remaining to put the Trojans up, 83-81.  An offensive foul gave the ball back to the Trojans, but Jassey Demba was able to steal the ball back with four seconds left. Binelli attempted a buzzer-beating jumper, but his shot did not go.
 
Rodriguez led all scorers with a season-high 26 points on Saturday, completing a double-double with 10 rebounds. He also added team highs of four steals and four assists. Martinez finished with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Styles added 12 points and three steals. Binelli picked up 11 points, and Bulesic was the fifth Mustang in double figures with 10 points in the game.
 
With the loss, the Mustangs' season now depends on their selection for an at-large bid into the NJCAA Men's Basketball Championships. The Mustangs will find out their fate on Monday, March 11, during the NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Selection Show. The selection show will be streamed live on NJCAA TV, Facebook Live, and Twitter, beginning at 12:30 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).