NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., November 17, 2022 – Emmanuel Ogbole had his biggest game so far in the Royal Blue and Gold Thursday evening with his first double-double of the season, leading the Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team to a 90-63 victory over Hagerstown Community College on the first night of the Monroe College Invitational at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs improve to 5-0 with the win, while the previously unbeaten Hawks fall to 5-1.
Ogbole finished with season highs of 25 points and 13 rebounds in the win, leading all players in both categories. He added three steals, two blocks and an assist to his big night. Impressively, Ogbole did all his damage without playing the final 14 minutes of Thursday's contest.
The Mustangs got off to a dominant start in Thursday's contest, sprinting out to a 16-0 lead over the first six minutes on the back of Ogbole's 10 points. The Hawks chipped away to get back within nine at 31-22, but the Mustangs scored the next seven to go back up by 16. After five points by the Hawks, the Mustangs scored the final four points of the half to take a 42-27 advantage into halftime.
Ogbole finished the first half with 16 points and eight rebounds to lead the Mustangs in both categories. Melvin Council Jr. added 11 points, four boards and team highs of three assists and three steals.
Monroe opened the second half on an 11-3 run to take a 53-30 advantage with 17:31 still left to play. The Hawks got back within 21 at 65-44 with 10:21 on the clock before seven straight for Monroe made it a 28-point game. The lead hit 30 when Ziare Wells made a layup through a foul, with the free throw putting Monroe up, 80-49. The largest lead of the night came on the next possession when Zatai Townsend threw down a dunk to make it an 82-49 game. Things slowed down from there, seeing the Mustangs lead by 27 through the final buzzer.
Council finished with 17 points and five rebounds in the win, adding three assists and three steals. Wells added 12 points and five boards, while Nikola Danicic picked up 12 points of his own to go with four rebounds. Isac Ahnstrand led the team with four assists.
The Mustangs shot 51.7 percent (31-of-60) from the field in the win, and made 26-of-32 (81.3 percent) chances from the free-throw line. Monroe outrebounded the Hawks, 43-31, and dominated the paint to the tune of 46 points to just 16 for the Hawks.
Day 2 of the Monroe College Invitational on Friday, Nov. 18, will feature three more games at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs get things started with their biggest matchup of the young season so far. Monroe takes on No. 13 Eastern Florida State College with a 3 p.m. tip-off. Brunswick Community College and Hagerstown face off at 5 p.m., followed by Allegany College of Maryland vs. Richard Bland College at 7 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 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 11 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 (
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