LEVELLAND, Texas, November 20, 2021 – The Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team erased a 13-point deficit in the second half in Friday's contest against South Plains College, but after reaching double overtime, the Mustangs were unable to take down the Texans, falling, 97-87, after 50 minutes at the Texan Dome on the first day of the Texan Classic. The Mustangs fall to 3-2 overall with the loss, while the Texans improve to 2-3.
 
With 13:39 remaining in the second half, a three-pointer by South Plains' Eric Coleman Jr. put the tournament hosts up, 50-37. It was 51-39 with 11:49 to go, but the Mustangs caught fire, scoring 14 straight points, taking a 53-51 advantage on a bucket by Jerald Campbell with 8:52 left in regulation. Monroe was able to go up, 66-61, with 4:23 on the clock, but the Texans responded with a 7-0 run to go back up, 68-61. The home team regained a two-point lead with 40 seconds to play, but Tyje Kelton drew a foul, making both chances at the line to send the game to overtime locked up at 70-70.
 
The two teams traded the lead back-and-forth throughout the first overtime period. The Mustangs led by three with 3:13 to go, by a three by South Plains' Kieves Turner tied the game. Turner made another three with 22 seconds left to go back up by two, but Braelon Joe sank a trey to put Monroe back up by one with 16 seconds left. With just four ticks on the clock, DJ Avery drew a foul for the Texans, but made just one of the two chances, tying the game at 80-80 to send it to another overtime period.
 
The Texans caught fire in the second extra frame, jumping into the lead in the first minute and never looking back. An 11-0 run for the home team put the Texans up, 95-84, leading to the 97-87 final at the buzzer.
 
Melvin Council Jr. continued his hot start to the season with a game-high 28 points, adding a team-high nine points and five steals in a strong game. Jadon Archer tallied 23 points and led the team with four assists. Kelton added eight points and six rebounds.
 
The Mustangs will look to rebound on Day 2 of the Texan Classic, when they take on New Mexico Military Institute at 12 p.m. EST.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 39 teams competing across nine sports. There are 21 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, the Monroe College marching band, and the newly added esports and men's volleyball programs, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 18 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 Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).