NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., November 19, 2022 – A perfect 3-0 weekend pushes the Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team to 7-0 on the young season, as the Mustangs capped off a stellar weekend in the Monroe College Invitational with a 73-54 victory over Brunswick Community College on Saturday at the Monroe Athletic Complex.
After both teams struggled to pull away early in the opening half, the Mustangs went on a 10-0 run to break a tie and go up, 21-11, with 11:11 to go in the half. After Brunswick's Khouri Carvery scored back-to-back layups, Albert Vargas responded for Monroe with five straight of his own to go back up by 11. Nikola Danicic later hit at here, followed by buckets from Hamdel Mohammed and Ziare Wells to make it a 35-19 game with 4:49 on the clock. Shortly after, The Mustangs turned up the head once again, with a Vargas three sparking an 8-0 run that made it a 43-23 game. Mohammed hit a layup at the buzzer, giving Monroe a 45-24 edge at the break.
Jawarie Hamelin and Vargas matched for a team-high eight points at the half. Mohammed had six points and matched Emmanuel Ogbole with a team-high five rebounds. Isac Ahnstrand led the team with three assists through 20 minutes.
The Dolphins outscored the Mustangs, 11-4, over the first five minutes of the second half, cutting the deficit to 14 points. Monroe bounced back with the next six points to push the lead right back to 20. The Mustangs held Brunswick off the board for more than five minutes, going on an 11-0 run during that stretch to push the lead to 68-39. After the Mustangs took a 72-44 lead with 3:07 to play, the Dolphins outscored them, 10-1, but it was not enough to bring the visitors back into the game, as the Mustangs held on to win by 19.
The Mustangs spread the wealth in Saturday's win, with 11 different Mustangs scoring in the game, eight of which scored six or more points. Ogbole, Vargas and Mohammed each scored 10 points, with Ogbole pulled down 12 rebounds to go a perfect 3-for-3 this weekend with a double-double in each game. Hamelin finished with eight points and a team-high four steals. Melvin Council Jr., Stefano Faloppa and Nikola Danicic each contributed seven points apiece, with Council adding four assists. Zatai Townsend totaled six points and three rebounds.
Depth played a factor in the win, with Monroe's reserves totaling 39 points compared to just 19 for the Dolphins. Monroe also outscored Brunswick in the paint, 42-28. Monroe made 42.9 percent of its three-pointers (6-of-14) in the win.
The Mustangs will see two of the teams that competed in the Monroe Invitational next weekend when they play in Hagerstown Community College's annual Jim Brown Classic. The Mustangs open the weekend against Hagerstown on Saturday, Nov. 26, at 1 p.m. Monroe will then play Allegany College of Maryland on Sunday, Nov. 27, at 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 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.
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