HAGERSTOWN, Md., November 28, 2021 – Despite falling behind by nine points early in the first half on Sunday, the Monroe College Mustangs men's basketball team came storming back to pick up an 89-72 victory over Allegany College of Maryland on the final day of the Jim Brown Classic, hosted by Hagerstown Community College. Monroe improves to 6-3 overall with the win, while the Trojans fall to 3-4.
 
The Trojans got off to a hot start, running out to a 14-5 lead just over three minutes into Sunday's contest. They were up, 17-9, before the Mustangs caught fire, going on a 24-2 run to jump out to a 33-19 advantage with 9:14 still left in the half. A layup by Jerald Campbell pushed the lead to 21 points with 5:25 on the clock, but a Brandon Hodge three made it a 50-21 lead shortly after. The Trojans scored the next 11 points to get within 18, but Kyrin Hill drained a three before time ran out in the half to leave Monroe up, 53-32, at the break.
 
Melvin Council got back to his high-scoring ways in the first half, tallying 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting in the opening 20 minutes. Jadon Archer added eight points and matched Hamdel Mohammed for a team-high six rebounds.
 
Isac Ahnstrand scored five straight points in the first two minutes of the second half to push Monroe's lead back to 29 points. The Trojans then made a big push, getting back within 15 points at 62-47, with 13:45 still left to play. The Mustangs rebounded with seven straight points to make it a 22-point game once again. The Mustangs led by 24 with just under 10 minutes remaining, but the Trojans were in control for much of the next six minutes to get back within 14 points. The lead shrunk to 12 with 2:49 to go, but the Mustangs were able to turn it around and hang on from there, winning by 17 points after the final buzzer.
 
Council finished with a game-high 26 points, adding four steals and four assists in the win. Ahnstrand and Archer had matching 12-point games, while Archer led the team with six assists. Mohammed finished with a team-best eight boards to go with five points and three assists.
 
The Mustangs took advantage of a 19-12 advantage in turnovers by outscoring the Trojans, 22-11, off turnovers. Monroe also dominated the paint with a 40-26 edge from in close.
 
The Mustangs take a trip to Upstate New York next weekend for three more road contests. The weekend begins on Friday, Dec. 3, with a 3 p.m. matchup at Monroe Community College.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 39 teams competing across nine sports. There are 21 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, the Monroe College marching band, and the newly added esports and men's volleyball programs, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 18 teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
 
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).