NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., December 9, 2023 – A late rally had the Monroe College Mustangs JV men's basketball team within striking distance of Bryant & Stratton College (Va.) JV in Saturday's contest, but the Mustangs could not quite close the gap, falling to the Bobcats, 87-78, at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs fall to 6-5 on the year with the loss, while the Bobcats even their record at 2-2.
It was all Mustangs to open Saturday's matchup, as the home team scored the first nine points of the game. They were up by 10 at 21-11 with 11:37 on the clock in the first half before the Bobcats made a push to get back into the game. After a layup made it an eight-point game, a trio of threes by the Bobcats put them in the lead, 22-21.
The Bobcats held the lead for a bit before the Mustangs tied it back up at 30-30. The visitors responded with 11 straight points, though a couple threes by
Xavier Washington helped Monroe stay within striking distance. The Bobcats ultimately took a 43-36 advantage into the halftime break.
Monroe spread the ball around in the opening frame with eight different Mustangs scoring in the first 20 minutes.
Jordan Sanders led the team with nine points, five rebounds and three assists at the break. Washington netted seven off the bench.
De'Angelo Owens and
Turone Kelly each contributed six points in the half.
The Bobcats carried their momentum into the second half, scoring the first 13 points of the new frame before a
Carey Grace-Joy three-pointer halted the run. Emani Langley then hit another three for the Bobcats to put them up by 20. The Mustangs slowly chipped away at the deficit, eventually getting within 10 after a three-point play by
De'Angelo Owens.
After the Bobcats pushed their lead back to 12, the Mustangs went on a 10-2 run, cutting the deficit to just four points at 74-70 with 3:47 to go. The Mustangs kept it close, staying within six after a pair of
Jordan Sanders free throws with 1:37 on the clock, but the Bobcats scored the next six to put the game out of reach with 45 seconds left, eventually holding on for the nine-point victory.
Grace-Joy led the Mustangs with 20 points in the game, adding six rebounds and two assists. Sanders completed a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards, as well as a team-high five assists. Kelly picked up 14 points and six rebounds, while each of Owens and Washington tallied 10 points on Saturday.
Malcolm-Jamal Harris provided nine points and seven rebounds.
The Mustangs are back at it this Thursday, Dec. 14, when they host Harcum College JV at the MAC. Thursday's tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
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).
