Niceville, FL-  The Monroe Mustangs came up just two points short in a defensive slugfest on Friday afternoon, falling 57-55 to Pensacola State in a matchup that stayed tight from tip-off to the final possession.

The Mustangs opened the game with strong energy on both ends, using active hands and solid rebounding to build a 30-28 lead at halftime. Qingfang Pang set the early tone, attacking the paint efficiently and finishing with a team-high 14 points while shooting 4-for-7 from the field and 5-for-6 at the line. Monroe continued to rely on its interior presence throughout the day, with Riley Dunn dominating the glass for a game-best 12 rebounds, nine of them on the defensive end.

In the second half, the margin never stretched far for either team. Every possession mattered, but cold shooting from deep made it difficult for the Mustangs to pull away. Monroe finished just 5-for-24 from three-point range, despite solid looks created by Naceiar Kirksey, who totaled 12 points, five assists, and two steals in an all-around performance. Nick Williams added seven points and seven rebounds, while Nico Peña provided a spark off the bench with six points on 2-for-3 shooting from beyond the arc.

Down the stretch, Monroe continued to generate stops but couldn't convert enough on the offensive end. Pensacola State managed key baskets in the final minutes, edging ahead as the Mustangs' final attempts came up short.

Despite the narrow loss, Monroe showed strong effort on the boards, outrebounding Pensacola State 40-30 and limiting second-chance opportunities. Turnovers proved costly, however, with 15 giveaways swinging momentum in a game decided by just one possession.

Monroe returns to action tomorrow as they face #7 Northwest Florida State to close out the Raider Invitational.