NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., December 8, 2022 – After going down big early in the first half, the Monroe College Mustangs JV men's basketball team put together a huge comeback on Thursday, including a big run late in the game, to defeat 238 Academy, 89-78, at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs improve to 7-2 overall with the win.
Things got off to a rough start for Monroe, as 238 rolled out to an 11-3 lead across the first five minutes of the game.
Jefferson Liranzo ended Monroe's drought with a three-pointer, but 238 scored the next four points to go up, 15-6.
Richie Guillaume sank a layup, but the visitors responded with 16 straight points to take a 31-8 edge, soon making it a 24-point game at 33-9 with 6:59 to go in the half.
The Mustangs later turned things around with a 9-0 run, which became a 15-1 stretch that got Monroe back within 10 at 36-26. After two for 238,
Prince-Malachi Reid hit a pair of threes to make it a six-point game. 238's Michael Cofield hit a free-throw with 19 seconds left, sending the game to the half with 238 up, 39-32.
Daniel McCollum led the Mustangs with eight points at the half, adding five rebounds and two assists. Guillaume was next with seven points and a team-high seven boards. Reid's pair of threes gave him six points at the break.
The Mustangs scored the first four points of the second half to make it a two-point game, but were not able to draw even with 238 Academy. The visitors managed to push the lead back to nine points, and kept that difference with 7:41 left in regulation. A three by
Xavier Washington brought Monroe with five, but Siaka Camaro made a layup for 238 to make it a seven-point game again.
The Mustangs then started their big run, starting with a layup from Reid. Guillaume drained a three to get Monroe within two, and then McCollum put one off the glass to tie the game at 74-74 with 4:58 to play.
Davion Bonar gave Monroe the lead with another layup, but Tye Thomas dunked it to tie it up again for 238. Guillaume made another two, and then Reid scored through a foul, making it a three-point play to put the Mustangs up, 81-76. Reid drilled another long ball to make it an 84-76 game, but Camaro made a two to bring 238 back within six with 1:59 to go. On 238's next possession, Guillaume came up with a steal and took it all the way to the hoop to push the lead back to eight.
Jefferson Liranzo later made the front half of a pair of free throw to push the lead to nine. After a stop, Guillaume tipped in a miss to make it an 89-78 game with just 24 seconds left, securing the comeback win for Monroe.
Reid finished with a team-high 24 points in the win, adding five rebounds as well. Guillaume tallied 18 points and 14 rebounds and six assists. McCollum totaled 17 points with nine boards in the game. Liranzo added nine points and five rebounds.
Beelgin Nieves had seven points, four rebounds, three assists and a team-high four steals.
Monroe outrebounded 238, 49-36, in Thursday's victory. Depth played a huge role in the comeback win, as Monroe's reserves totaled 53 points compared to just eight for 238 Academy's bench.
The Mustangs are back at it at the MAC on Sunday, Dec. 8, when they welcome the SUNY Sullivan JV team to New Rochelle. 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 (
Monroe Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (
@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (
@monroemustangs).
