NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., February 12, 2024 – An enormous first half made for a light second frame for the Monroe College Mustangs JV men's basketball team on Monday, leading to an 89-66 victory over SUNY Purchase JV at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs improve to 17-9 overall with the win.
 
The Mustangs and Panthers were making buckets back-and-forth to start Monday's contest, seeing the Mustangs hold a narrow 14-12 edge just four minutes into the game. The Mustangs then began to take over, going on a 16-2 run, capped off with back-to-back threes by Carey Grace-Joy and Jordan Sanders, for a comfortable 30-14 lead. Sanders and Grace-Joy made another pair of threes to push the lead to 19 before four points were scored by the Panthers.
 
The Mustangs stayed hot, with long balls by Grace-Joy, Joel Ghiterman, Grace-Joy again and Xavier Washington contributing to a 16-0 stretch to give the Mustangs a commanding 52-21 lead with 6:26 still left to play in the first half. After Armani Walker hit a pair of free throws, Ezekiel Michael got in on the three party to make it a 57-23 game just past the four-minute mark. Monroe reached the 60-point mark with 20 seconds left in the half on a free throw by Jerry Despreux, eventually taking a 60-28 advantage into the half.
 
The Mustangs made 11 three-pointers in the first half and shot 57.9 percent from behind the arc. Grace-Joy made five of them, finishing with 17 points through the first 20 minutes. Sander made both of his threes and totaled 10 points in the half, leading the Mustangs with four rebounds. Clinton Johnson netted seven points, while De'Angelo Owens tallied six. Christian Castro contributed four steals and a team-high five assists.
 
With the Mustangs holding a large lead heading into the second half, the scoring slowed down on both ends of the court. Johnson scored seven points early in the new half before taking a rest for the night. Castro picked up the scoring with six points over a five-minute span, and then Washington scored five straight points to make it an 84-50 lead with 6:36 to play. The Mustangs took their foot off the gas, wrapping things up with an 89-66 win.
 
Johnson finished up with 14 points in the game, while Castro reached double digits with 10 points. Washington totaled eight points, while both Turone Kelley and Walker closed out the evening with six apiece. Ezekiel Michael led the team with seven rebounds.
 
The Mustangs head back on the road this Saturday, Feb. 17, to take on NJCAA Div. III No. 14 Dutchess Community College up in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Saturday's tip-off is set for 1 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 (@MonroeMustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs). Read Full Article