NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., November 18, 2022 – Looking to put themselves in the conversation as one of the top teams in the NJCAA, the Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team did just that on Friday, defeating No. 13 Eastern Florida State College, 82-63, Friday afternoon in the first contest of Day 2 of the Monroe College Invitational at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs improve to 6-0 on the season with the win, while the Titans take their first loss and fall to 6-1.
The Mustangs were ready for the challenge right from the jump, running out to a quick 12-2 lead on the Titans over the first three minutes. Eastern Florida made it a seven-point game, but the Mustangs scored the next seven to go up, 21-7. A three by Melvin Council Jr. with 6:51 to play put the Mustangs on top, 30-15. A 9-0 run late in the half, emphatically capped off with a dunk from Council, made it a 23-point game, leading to Monroe's 46-24 advantage at the break.
Council led all scorers with 17 points at the break, adding three steals as well. Jawarie Hamelin added 12 points with three steals of his own. Emmanuel Ogbole totaled 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds at the half.
The Mustangs continued to keep their distance from the Titans early in the second half. Monroe's lead was cut down to 19, but they quickly went back up by 24. Midway through the half, Nikola Danicic scored back-to-back buckets for the Mustangs to push the lead to 28 at 73-45. Monroe's lead dropped to 19 around the five-minute mark, but a 7-2 run put the Mustangs right back up by 24 with three minutes to play. The Titans hit a three at the buzzer to cut Monroe's lead down to 19 once more with the final score of 82-63.
Council finished with a season-high 24 points to lead the court on Friday, adding four board, three blocks and three steals. Hamelin also set a new season-high with 17 points in the win, leading the team with four steals as well. Ogbole registered his second straight double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
The Mustangs played a clean game, turning the ball over just seven times while taking it away 23 times. That led to a 31-6 advantage in points off turnovers, which proved to be a major difference in the game. Points in the paint also went to Monroe, 40-24.
The Mustangs will look to cap off a perfect weekend on Saturday, Nov. 19, when they host Brunswick Community College in Monroe's final contest in the Monroe College Invitational. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 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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