NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., February 16, 2023 – The Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team produced its highest point total since January 2020 in a 115-69 victory over Busche Academy on Thursday at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs improve to 24-3 overall with the win.
The Mustangs' 115 points were the most since a 118-67 victory over Hostos Community College back on Jan. 16, 2020.
Melvin Council Jr. led the way on Thursday with a team-high 27 points, leaving him just four points shy of the
Mustangs' all-time scoring record. He also had eight assists in the win.
An administrative technical foul assessed to the Mustangs allowed the Lions to take a 1-0 lead before Thursday's tip. The Mustangs then scored 13 straight points and never looked back. After a layup by Busche's Ali Barry made it a 33-14 lead for Monroe, the Mustangs held the Lions off the board for more than 10 straight minutes, going on a 26-0 run in the process. Busche scored the final two points of the opening half, but the Mustangs took a commanding 59-16 lead into the break.
The Mustangs came out with that same fire in the second half, scoring nine straight before the Lions scored their first bucket of the new frame. Monroe then scored 11 more points to take a 79-18 advantage before the Lions began to get into a bit of a rhythm. The lead fell to 46 before the Mustangs went on a 12-0 stretch in the back half of the period to go up, 106-48. The Mustangs then took their foot off the gas, which the Lions took advantage of to the tune of 13 straight points. The teams then traded baskets over the final three minutes to reach the 115-69 final.
Nikola Danicic netted a career-high 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting in the win.
Keith Warren Jr. totaled 15 points, while
Emmanuel Ogbole added 13. Council and Ogbole matched for a team-high four steals, while Ogbole led the team with eight rebounds.
The Mustangs shot 58.3 percent (42-of-72) from the field in the win, including 13-of-28 (46.4 percent) from three-point range. They outrebounded the Lions, 56-33, and commanded the paint with 52 points compared to 36 for Busche.
The Mustangs are set to celebrate Sophomore Day on Saturday, Feb. 18, before hosting rival Harcum College at the Monroe Athletic Complex for a crucial region matchup between the Mustangs and Bears. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 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).
