NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., January 21, 2024 – The most thrilling and competitive game at the Monroe Athletic Complex this season saw the Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team come out on top against CCBC Dundalk, 97-93, Sunday afternoon. The Mustangs run their win streak to seven games and improve to 16-5 overall, while the Lions drop to 9-8.
The visiting team was able to get off to a hot start, as the Lions took an early 8-4 lead on the Mustangs, eventually extending it to an 18-10 advantage with 12:05 left in the first half. Trailing again by eight after the midway point of the half, the Mustangs began to turn things around with a 9-3 run that made it a two-point game. Dundalk managed to stay on top with a three by Hussain Williams, but the Mustangs scored the next six to jump ahead, 27-26.
Monroe had a 30-28 lead when Williams hit another three to put the Lions back on top. A dunk by
Ryan Williams Jr. gave Monroe the lead again, but four straight points in the final minute by the Lions put them up by three with just seconds to play.
Albert Vargas managed to get to the hoop with time running out, laying it in before the buzzer to leave the Mustangs down, 35-34, heading to the half.
The Lions maintained their slim lead early in the second half, but a three by Vargas got the Mustangs within two at 43-41. Vargas hit another three after the Lions scored to make it a one-point game, but Shakur Smith kept the Lions ahead with a layup. The Mustangs scored the next four to take the lead, but it did not last long after Dundalk's Malachi Washington executed a three-point play. The Mustangs scored six of the next eight points in the game to take over again, but the teams went on to trade the lead back-and-forth until the midway point of the half.
With the Lions back up by two, Monroe finally made its big run, scoring 11 straight points to grab a 67-58 advantage with 7:44 left in the second half. Five straight points by the Lions halted Monroe's run to make it a four-point game, but back-to-back layups by
Ziare Wells and
Devere Palmer Jr. extended the lead back to eight with 5:54 to go.
The Lions kept the game close with another five points, leaving Monroe up, 71-68, with 4:56 remaining. A jumper by
Ryan Williams Jr. pushed Monroe's lead to five, but Smith hit a pair from the foul line for the Lions to make it a three-point game with 3:14 on the clock. Palmer later got fouled, making both chances to stretch the lead to five. Vargas was then fouled after a stop, making 1-of-2 to give Monroe a six-point edge with 44 seconds on the clock.
Hussain Williams then drained yet another three for the Lions with 35 seconds on the clock, keeping Dundalk within one score at 76-73. The Lions then got the turnover they needed, getting the ball back with the clock reading 26.3. Hussain Williams then sank a contested three, tying the game at 76-76 with 9.7 left. On Monroe's possession, the ball was knocked out of bounds by the Lions, leaving 2.6 on the clock. The Mustangs were unable to get a shot to go, sending the game to overtime knotted up at 76-76.
The Lions opened the extra period with four straight points to go up, 80-76. The Mustangs then locked things down on defense, scoring the next three points to get within one. With 60 seconds on the clock, Vargas drained a jumper to put the Mustangs ahead, 81-80. After a big stop, Wells was sent to the line, where he made the first of two chances to make it an 82-80 game. With 5.5 left, Malachi Washington laid one in for the Lions, tying the game at 82-82. The Mustangs had to sprint up the court, but were unable to make their shot, sending the game to a second overtime period.
Xavier Barrow was fouled after Dundalk won the tip to open double overtime, making just the second of his two chances to put the Lions up by a point.
Hassan Washington responded with a layup, but Malachi Washington made one of his own for the Lions.
Hassan Washington scored again for Monroe, and then Wells hit a big three after a stop to make it a four-point game. A technical foul on Monroe sent Charles Neverdon to the line, but he made just the second shot to keep Monroe up by three. Vargas scored on a goaltending to extend the Mustangs' lead to 91-86 with 1:28 to play in double overtime.
Hussain Williams then hit a layup for Dundalk, leaving Monroe up by three with just over a minute left. The Mustangs took some time off the clock before Vargas was sent to the line, making both shots to make it a five-point game with 39 seconds left. Hussain Williams then hit another three, leaving Monroe up by two with 33.0 on the clock. Palmer was then fouled and made both of his shots at the free-throw line to make it a 95-91 game. The Mustangs then earned a takeaway on a jump ball, forcing Dundalk to foul
Stefano Faloppa with 8.9 left. Faloppa made both shots to give Monroe a 97-91 advantage. Malachi Washington made a layup for the Lions right before the buzzer, but time ran out on the visitors, giving the Mustangs the 97-93 victory.
Wells led a group of six Mustangs to score in double figures on Sunday, netting 21 points off the bench with nine rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block. Palmer registered a double-double with 16 points and 14 boards, adding two blocks as well. Vargas came off the bench to score 18 points with five boards, five assists and a pair of steals. Faloppa totaled 14 points with nine rebounds in the win. Williams scored 11 points with five boards, while Washington tallied 10 points with six rebounds and two blocks.
The Mustangs will look to keep things rolling this Thursday, Jan. 25, when they take a short trip to Valhalla, N.Y. to take on Westchester Community College. Thursday's matchup is set for a 7 p.m. tip off.
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).
