ROCHESTER, N.Y., December 3, 2021 – Trailing by double figures with just over a minute remaining in regulation, the Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team showed off its resilience on Friday, coming all the way back to defeat Monroe Community College, 91-89, in overtime on the road. The Mustangs improve to 7-3 overall with the win, while the Tribunes drop to 1-5.
 
The home team had everything clicking in the first half, as the Tribunes rolled to a 48-29 advantage after 20 minutes. The Tribunes continued to hold a double-digit lead throughout much of the second half, leading by 15 points with 8:35 left to play. The Mustangs began to chip away, but the Tribunes managed to go back up by 13 with a little more than a minute to play.
 
Melvin Council Jr. quickly drained a three with 1:16 on the clock to make it a 79-70 game. A goaltending gave the Tribunes two more point to give them an 11-point advantage. Keith Warren Jr. then sank a three while falling to the ground to make it an 81-73 game. After another takeaway, Hamdel Mohammed hit a layup to make it a six-point game with 32.2 to go.
 
The Mustangs got it back again, and Jerald Campbell sank another layup to draw within four with 27.4 on the clock. Izaiah Williams was fouled for the Tribunes, but made just 1-of-2 from the line to go up, 82-77. Council then made a layup to get back within three with 22.6 still on the scoreboard. The Mustangs fouled, and the Tribunes missed both attempts to give the Mustangs a chance. After a miss, the Mustangs got the ball back and dished it out to Warren, who nailed a three to tie the game at 82-82 with just six seconds left. The Mustangs managed to steal the ball one more time, but missed at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.
 
The Mustangs scored the first three points of the extra period on layup by Braelon Joe and a free throw by Mohammed. The Tribunes got back within one, but Council sank a jumper to make it a three-point game once again. Ishmael Smith made one of his own for the Tribunes, and then Warren made a free throw to make it a two-point game. After a Tribune turnover, Tyje Kelton sank another two for Monroe to make it a 90-86 game. Adam Williams responded with a three for the Tribunes to get them back within one. Isac Ahnstrand went to the line for the Mustangs, but made one-of-two to leave the Mustangs up by two. Smith then missed for the Tribunes and the ball went back to the Mustangs who were able to get the clock to zero, hanging one for the two-point, comeback victory.
 
Council shot 12-of-18 from the field to finish with a game-high 28 points in the win on Friday. He added six assists and five rebounds as well. Warren scored 17 off the bench. Mohammed contributed 11 points and a team-best seven boards. Kelton picked up 10 points off the bench with six rebounds of his own, while also scoring what proved to be the game-winning bucket.
 
Despite trailing for the far majority of the game, the Mustangs led the Tribunes in points off turnovers (25-16), bench points (37-15) and points in the paint (54-30) on Friday. The Mustangs forced 22 turnovers by the Tribunes while only turning it over 14 times themselves.
 
With a momentous victory now in hand, the Mustangs continue their Upstate New York trip tomorrow, Dec. 4, when they visit Erie Community College in Buffalo, N.Y. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. following the women's game between the Mustangs and the Kats.
 
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).