NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Last Sunday afternoon, the Monroe Men’s basketball team and their loyal fans saw the culmination of a season’s hard work pay off, as the Mustangs rallied to deliver their best performance of the season. In doing so, they secured a tense 71-68 overtime win over nationally ranked (#9) Harcum College to claim the NJCAA 2015 Division I Region XV Championship.
Sophomore point guard Thomas Rivera led the team, scoring 18 points and nabbing two steals. And, with just 21 seconds remaining in the second half, he made two crucial free-throws that sent the game into overtime.
Freshman forward Ran Tut also played a key role in the Mustangs’ victory, scoring 19 points off the bench. Sophomores Keith Harris (6 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists) and Joel Angus III (10 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists) also gave notable performances.
This big victory came on the heels of Saturday’s semi-finals win over rival ASA, which resulted in a final score of 92-79. Forward Joel Angus III played a pivotal role in that game, contributing 19 points and 10 rebounds. Jaylen Benton (14 points, 4 rebounds), Shackquiel Scott (12 points, 7 rebounds), and Edgar Garcia also played particularly well coming off the bench.
As the tournament concluded, various Mustangs men received well-earned recognition from the NJCAA: Thomas Rivera, who along with teammate Lukas Landgren was named to the All-Conference first team, also received the Region XV Most Valuable Player of the Tournament award. Freshman guard Will Tavares, a former Rhode Island high school standout, was named the Region Player of the Year.
And last — but certainly not least — head coach Jeff Brustad picked up his seventh Region XV Coach of the Year award in recognition of his continued commitment to the sport and the student athletes he mentors.
The 23-8 Monroe Men’s team will now progress to the District Championship, facing Baltimore City Community College (19-11) in Baltimore this Saturday, March 7, at 3:00 p.m.
