NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The fans whom packed the Monroe Athletic Complex to overflowing for the men’s basketball team’s home opener on Tuesday, were treated to a great game that saw Will Tavares lead a second-half surge to lift the Mustangs to a 61-50 win. Tavares finished with 20 points, while Shackquiel Scott recorded a double-double of 18 points and ten rebounds.
Canarias held the lead for the first seven minutes of play in the first half. Monroe would finally grab a lead when Taquan Givens found Lawahn Lewis on the break for a layup at the 13:02 mark. The score was 13-12 for the Mustangs. Canarias answered back and took a four-point. Eventually Scott made a pair of free throws late in the half to make the score even at 27-all heading into the locker room.
Canarias maintained their lead deep into the second half. They pushed their cushion to six points, but Will Tavares took the game over with 7:45 to go. He slashed through the lane and made a layup to make the score 41-40 for Canarias. A minute later, he grabbed a rebound off a missed shot and went coast-to-coast for a layup that made the score 42-41 for Monroe. On the next possession, the sophomore from Providence, Rhode Island, brought the crowd out of their seats with a three-pointer.
A Kemar Campbell dunk got the fans cheering again and gave the Mustangs a 47-41 lead with 4:55 left. Campbell stole the ball on the defensive end, found Tyler Ancrum on the break and finished with the tenacious dunk. A layup by Tavares with 1:28 left gave Monroe its largest lead of the game, 11 points. The Mustangs went on to win 61-50. The win was the second-straight for Monroe. The Mustangs outscored Canarias off turnovers, 18-0.
The Monroe College men’s basketball team returns to action on Saturday, November 21, when they host Monroe Community Classic at 3PM in the Monroe College Invitational.
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