RALEIGH, N.C., December 30, 2023 – Six Mustangs hit double-figures to help lift the Monroe College men's basketball team to a 92-77 victory over host Wake Technical Community College on Saturday in the Mustangs' final contest of the 2023 calendar year. Monroe heads home with a 10-5 overall record, while the Eagles even out at 8-8.
Devere Palmer Jr. had his best game of the season on Saturday, leading the Mustangs with a season-high 19 points off the bench to go with a team-best six rebounds, two blocks and an assist.
Zatai Townsend was next with 18 points of his own off the bench, setting a new career high in his sophomore campaign.
Albert Vargas completed a terrific weekend with another 17 points and five assists.
Jawarie Hamelin,
Ziare Wells and
Stefano Faloppa all finished with 10 points apiece in the win. Hamelin led the team with eight assists while pulling down four boards and registering three steals. Wells added four assists.
The Mustangs controlled early in the contest, as a Wells layup gave Monroe an 11-6 lead just past the four-minute mark of the first half. Wake Tech's Ray Faison hit a three to get within two, but a long ball by Townsend kicked off a 7-0 run that saw Monroe double up the Eagles, 18-9. The lead hit 12 when a three by Townsend and a layup by Faloppa on back-to-back possessions pushed the score to 23-11. A three-point play by
Ryan Williams Jr. a few minutes later gave the Mustangs a 14-point advantage with 8:45 left in the half.
After the Eagles rallied to get within nine, the Mustangs scored 10 straight, including threes by Vargas and Hamelin, to take a 19-point advantage on the home team. The Eagles then found a rhythm, outscoring the Mustangs, 12-3, over the final four minutes to send the game to the half with Monroe ahead, 47-37.
Vargas led the Mustangs with nine points at the break, matching Hamelin for a team-high three assists. Hamelin contributed five points in the first half. Faloppa added eight points and a team-high four rebounds. Wells and Palmer both scored six points over the first 20 minutes.
The Eagles carried the momentum from late in the first half into the second, scratching and clawing their way back into the game until a Mykael Miller three dropped Monroe's lead to just a point at 65-64 with 10:15 left in regulation. Despite the big run, the Mustangs managed to hold off Wake Tech, eventually pushing the lead back to 10 just three minutes later. The Eagles were back within seven with 4:05 on the clock, but Palmer scored four straight to go back up by double digits. The Mustangs put the clamps on the Eagles over the final 2:52, scoring another seven points in the final 86 seconds to secure a 15-point victory.
The Mustangs shot well on Saturday, making 55.4 percent (31-of-56) of their shots from the field in the win, including seven three-pointers. Monroe also got it done from the free-throw line, making 23-of-26 chances (88.5 percent). They took advantage of a 19-11 difference in turnovers with a 26-12 edge in points off turnovers in the win.
The Mustangs are back in action in the New Year when they host the Monroe College Men's and Women's Mixer at the Monroe Athletic Complex beginning Saturday, Jan. 6. Monroe's weekend begins with a 7 p.m. tip-off against Howard Community College to close out Day 1 on Saturday.
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 28 teams competing across nine sports. There are 20 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well the Monroe College marching band, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has seven 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).
