Employing a two-unit substitution system, the Monroe Mustangs survived a scare from a plucky Spartanburg Methodist (SC) team to win 67-61 in the third round of the NJCAA Division I Men’s National Basketball Tournament being played this week in Hutcinson, KS. The 32-4 Mustangs will play the fifth-place game on Saturday at 2:00pm (3:00pm NY time). It will be Monroe’s final game of the season. Box Score Read about it in an SC newspaper Read about it in the Hutchinson News
Thursday’s contest was Monroe’s third national playoff game in three days and Monroe coach Jeff Brustad went to his bench extensively to give his starters a chance to regain their energy after two grueling games against top-ten teams in the first two rounds.
“We play to win and I felt that in order to do so, our guys who had given it their all the last two nights had to get a chance to catch their breaths, so we used our depth today,” Coach Brustad said. “It’s also important for all the young men to get a chance to play during the national tournament.”
Essentially all of Monroe’s substitutions in the game were of the five-man variety with Chris Brown, Jalil Abdul-Bassit, Terrell Eaddy, Anthony Banks, and Thomas Feeney Jr. all getting double-digit playing time.
To some degree the strategy almost backfired as the Pioneers closed the lead Monroe had to within two points with 4:32 left in the game. But Brustad responded by putting his starting five back into the game and they held off the Spartanburg rally to nab the win and a spot in the fifth-place game.
Davon Marshall was Monroe’s high-scorer with 18 points. Maurice Ndour had 10 rebounds.
Monroe ‘s next game will be on Saturday at 2:00pm (3:00pm NY time). If they win they’ll be the nation’s fifthe-place team.
