SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va., November 6, 2021 – Playing for the first time since winning the 2020 East District Championship Game on March 7, 2020, the Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team defeated host Richard Bland College on the first day of the Statesmen Classic by a score of 69-45 Friday evening. The Mustangs open the year 1-0, while the Statesmen drop to 1-1.
 
Melvin Council Jr. led all scorers in the game, scoring 20 points in his Mustang debut. He added four rebounds, three assists and three steals in a big first game. David Gordon pulled down a team-high nine rebounds off the bench, adding seven points, two steals and a block. Hamdel Mohammed blocked six shots in the win to go with eight boards and five points.
 
Isac Ahnstrand, Braelon Joe and Jadon Archer all matched Gordon's seven points in the win. Archer did a little of everything, adding five boards, four assists and two steals. Tyje Kelton picked up six points with a block and a steal, while Keon Gill scored four points, dished out three assists, added two rebounds and two steals, and blocked a shot.
 
A big contributor to Monroe's victory was a 26-3 advantage in points off turnovers, sparked by 27 turnovers by the Statesmen, compared to just 13 by the Mustangs. The Mustangs trailed for much of the first half, but after jumping into the lead, 22-21, a few minutes before halftime, the Mustangs never looked back, outscoring their hosts, 41-22, over the final 20 minutes to pick up a 24-point win.
 
The Mustangs will look to make it a perfect opening weekend on Saturday, Nov. 6, when they take on Brunswick Community College to wrap up the Statesmen Classic in Virginia. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m.
 
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).