NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., January 8, 2022 – The Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team showed no signs of rust in the Mustangs' first game in three weeks, taking down Hostos Community College, 96-64, Saturday evening at the Monroe Athletic Complex. Monroe improves to 14-4 on the year with the win, while the Caimans drop to 7-5.
 
After a close start to Saturday's contest, the Mustangs started to pull away with a 23-10 lead with 11:58 to go in the half after an alley-oop from Keith Warren Jr. to Keon Gill. The Mustangs were up, 31-18, with 7:19 on the clock before Hostos went on a 9-1 run to get back within five. The Mustangs went on a late run, scoring the final six points of the half, including a three by Melvin Council Jr. just before the buzzer, sending the game to the break with Monroe up, 40-29.
 
Council led the Mustangs with 10 points after the first 20 minutes, adding eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. Warren picked up eight points with three assists and three steals.
 
The Mustangs got off to a big start in the second frame, scoring the first 13 points, including three straight long balls by Council, Warren, and Council again, to take a 53-29 advantage with 17:41 on the clock. Monroe maintained a comfortable lead throughout, making it a 32-point lead on a three by Isac Ahnstrand with 6:31 to play. A slam dunk by Gill with 3:37 remaining gave Monroe its largest lead of the night at 92-57, leading to the eventual 96-64 final.
 
Council added another 10 points in the second half to finish with 20 on the night. He also picked up nine rebounds, handed out five assists and made four steals. Warren totaled 16 points with six assists and four steals on the night. Ahnstrand and Hamdel Mohammed matched with 12 points apiece in the win. Braelon Joe tallied 10 points off the bench, while Nikola Danicic finished with seven points and eight boards.
 
The Mustangs made 43.7 percent (31-of-71) of their field goals for the night, including 9-of-20 (45 percent) from three-point range. Hostos shot just 34.7 percent (25-of-72) from the field, while making none of their 17 three-point attempts. The Mustangs took advantage of 33 Caiman turnovers, converting 34 points off turnovers in the win.
 
The Mustangs get right back to work on Sunday, Jan. 9, when they host Div. II No. 15 Cecil College at the Monroe Athletic Complex. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 35 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 14 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).