New Rochelle, NY – The Monroe University men's basketball team is set to open its season on Friday, November 1, against Quincy College at 6:00 pm at the Monroe Athletic Complex.

The Mustangs are coming off a 23-8 season in 2023-24. They return five players from the year prior in Ryan Williams Jr., Hassan Washington, Devere Palmer Jr., Pedro Szuldman and Manuel Peral. Palmer Jr. and Williams Jr. played all in all 31 games in 2023-24, while Washington appeared in 30 games, but made 12 starts for the Mustangs.

Head coach Jeff Brustad enters his 22nd season in New Rochelle, churning out a roster with impact freshmen along with his returning sophomores.

"Talking to them through practice, helping the guys and picking them up, and just letting them grow," sophomore Ryan Williams Jr. said on helping the freshmen adjust to college athletics.

Riley Dunn and Eric Mejia look to headline the freshman class as they acclimate to Monroe.

"We're starting to learn more about and each other," freshman Riley Dunn said. "What each other are best at and what we need to work on as well."

The Mustangs begin the season with a tough slate of games, including a potential matchup against the No. 1 team in the country, South Plains College.

"The upcoming season is going to have a lot of excitement early and often," Brustad said. "It's going to expedite the process of getting [our] team to play together and become the team [we] really want to be."

Early season tests prepare teams for postseason success and the Mustangs mantra all season will be to stick together and perform as one.

"We have to be one. We have to defend as one. We have to play offense as one," Brustad said. "The more we do things together, it'll make it easier for one another. The quicker we can get to all 14 guys being on the same page, you're generally ready to make that playoff push."

ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE UNIVERSITY
The athletic program at Monroe University encompasses a total of 28 teams competing across nine sports. There are 20 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as the Monroe University 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.MonroeUMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (@MonroeMustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).