HUTCHINSON, KS.–The No. 13 Monroe University men's basketball team (28-5 overall) fell to No. 4 Trinity Valley College in a heartbreaking overtime finish 78-75 in Monday's NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball tournament second round.

HOW IT HAPPENED

·      The Mustangs were held to 25 points in the first half while Trinity Valley tallied 36.

·      Tavien Tyler led the Mustangs in points in the opening quarter with eight, going 3-4 from the field including going 2-3 from the three-point line.

·      The Mustangs forced nine turnovers against the Cardinals in the opening half.

·      In the second half, the Mustangs' offense came together as they went 11-29 from the field and 8-15 from three-point distance, tallying 42 points in the second half alone.

·      Naceiar Kirksey and Faquir Mosley each tallied 10 points in the half, leading the Mustangs in the half.

·      Kirksey scored the go-ahead jump-shot to put the Mustangs ahead 67-65 with 39 seconds remaining before Trinity Valley tied the game up at 67, sending the game into overtime.

·      In overtime, both teams were knotted at 75-75 before a dunk and a pair of made free-throws gave Trinity Valley the 78-75 lead and victory.

STATS AND NOTES

·      The Mustangs ended the 2025-26 with a 28-5 overall record.

·      The record sits tied for third all-time in program history in wins.

·      The Mustangs' 20-game win streak ended with the loss.

·      Kirksey sat as the top-point scorer for the Mustangs in the game with 19 on the day.

·      Kirksey and Riley Dunn each tallied seven rebounds on the day, which led the team.

·      Trinity Valley leads the all-time series 1-0.

·      This is the third time the Mustangs have lost in the second round of the tournament.