NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., January 10, 2023 – Hosting the Omnia Basketball Academy from Finland for the second straight season, the No. 12-ranked Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team picked up its third victory of 2023 and sixth straight overall with a 65-53 win at the Monroe Athletic Complex Tuesday evening. The Mustangs improve to 16-2 overall with the win.
The Mustangs fell behind to their overseas guests, 8-4, early in the first half on Tuesday.
Tyje Kelton and
Ziare Wells hit layups to tie the game before Gezim Bajrami put Omnia back in the lead.
Hamdel Mohammed provided four points on a 6-0 run to put the Mustangs ahead, 14-10. Monroe fell behind, 18-16, but eight straight put the Mustangs back on top, 24-18. After Omnia got back within two,
Melvin Council Jr. drained a three to turn the momentum back to Monroe.
Albert Vargas sank a jumper, and then Mohammed slammed one home to put the Mustangs up, 31-22, with 3:46 left in the half. A three by
Keith Warren Jr. pushed Monroe's lead to 11 points late in the opening frame. In the final minute, Mohammed made a pair of free throws to put the Mustangs up by 11 once again, and then
Tyje Kelton made a ridiculous layup while falling to the ground at the buzzer to send the game to the break with Monroe on top, 39-26.
Mohammed led the Mustangs with 11 points at the half. Kelton had eight points with a team-high five rebounds.
Stefano Faloppa had five points and three boards at the break.
Bajrami opened the second half with a three for Omnia, but the Mustangs went on a big run from there. Council provided nine of Monroe's points on an 11-2 run early in the period to push the Mustangs' lead to 50-31. Omnia later rallied back with a 10-0 run, cutting the deficit to nine points midway through the half. The scoring slowed down from there, with Monroe going on a 9-2 stretch across four minutes to make it a 63-47 lead for the home team. Council closed out Monroe's scoring with a dunk with 4:25 to go before the Mustangs took their foot off the gas, hanging on for the 65-53 win.
Council had a big second half to finish with 19 points, five rebounds and four steals in the win. Mohammed added 13 points and eight boards, while Kelton contributed 12 points and eight rebounds of his own. Faloppa finished up with 10 points in the game.
Ziare Wells tacked on four points, seven rebounds and a pair of assists.
The Mustangs took advantage of a 24-12 difference in turnovers by outscoring Omnia, 26-9, in points off turnovers. Monroe also held a 42-35 edge in rebounds, while also outscoring Omnia in the paint, 34-22.
The Mustangs continue a busy week on Thursday, Jan. 12, when they visit Harford Community College in Bel Air, Md. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. following the Mustangs and Fighting Owls women's basketball matchup.
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).
