NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Monroe College Men’s Basketball team spilt a pair of games at the Monroe Community College Tournament over the weekend. The Mustangs defeated Jamestown CC, 75-65, but fell to Monroe CC, 79-74. The team is now 15-6 overall.
Monroe had three players score double-figure points in the win over the Jamestown Jayhawks. Donald Butler led the team with 15, while Hampus Ahlin and Bryan Assie each totaled 13. The Mustangs jumped out to a nine-point lead at the half and went on to win by 10.
Monroe jumped to an 8-2 lead on five points from Butler and a three-pointer from Ahlin. The largest lead of the half, 13 points, came on a layup by Will Martinez at 3:07 to make the score, 35-22. The Mustangs led at the break, 37-28.
Jamestown opened the second half with a 12-2 run to turn a nine-point deficit into a one-point lead. From there, a steal by Damont Kearse Jr. led to a slam dunk by Jarron Chapman, giving Monroe the advantage, 41-40. The Jayhawks eventually built a five-point lead again, but the Mustangs battled back. A layup from Martinez gave Monroe the lead for good, at 63-62. They went on to outscore Jamestown to earn the 75-65 win.
The next day saw the Mustangs fall to tournament hosts Monroe Community College, 79-74. Dani Koljanin paced Monroe with 18 points and eight rebounds. Tyler Ancrum scored 14 and gave out seven assists.
Neither side gained control early in the game. A layup from Chapman put Monroe up seven, 19-12, with 11:09 left. The lead reached double-digits for the Mustangs when Kearse made a three-pointer inside of six minutes. Monroe led at the half, 41-38.
Monroe CC took the lead early after the break, but both sides battling back-and-forth for most of the half. Eventually the game was even at 74-all before the
Tribunes closed out the game with a 5-0 run.
The Monroe College Men’s Basketball team returns to action on Thursday, January 19, when they go on the road to Lackawanna as the second game of a doubleheader with the Women’s team.