BRYN MAWR, Pa., January 23, 2020 – In its first regional matchup of the 2019-20 campaign, the Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team dropped a narrow 100-97 decision to Harcum College Thursday afternoon. The Mustangs fall to 15-8 overall and 0-1 in region play with the loss, while the Bears improve to 19-2 and 1-0 in the region.
 
The Bears got out to an early lead, going up, 11-2, over the first three minutes of the game. The Mustangs fell behind by as many as 14 points early in the first half before steadily working their way back into the game.
 
A 10-0 run late in the frame got the Mustangs back within a point at 38-37, but the Bears responded with a 10-0 run of their own to go right back up by 11. Monroe cut the deficit back down to four with 26 seconds to play, but five straight points to close out the half for the Bears gave the home team a 55-46 edge heading into halftime.
 
The Mustangs trailed by double-digits for much of the second half before making a big push in the final minutes of the game. After trailing, 93-81, Monroe stormed right back with 11 straight points to get within one with 58 seconds to play.
 
Khalif Meares hit a three for Harcum to put the home team back up by four, but Akeem Tate responded with a three of his one to make it a one-point game once again. Harcum then made a pair of free throws to go up by three, but Juan Felix Rodriguez then made both of his chances from the charity stripe to once again get Monroe within a point. Anton Loginov went back to the line for the Bears shortly after, sinking both shots with 10 seconds left to make it a 100-97 game. The Mustangs were unable to get a shot off after that, falling by three on the road.
 
Tate had a strong game on Thursday, finishing with 18 points to lead the Mustangs. Marcus Thompson picked up a double-double off the bench with 17 points and a team-high 11 rebounds. Rodriguez fell a rebound shy of a triple-double, totaling 16 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. Zion Styles also narrowly missed a double-double with 12 points and nine boards, adding four assists as well.
 
The Mustangs will look to bounce back on Wednesday, Jan. 29, when they host Region XV rival ASA College at the Monroe Athletic Complex. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 31 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 12 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 Mustangs), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).