2/19/26
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – Nationally ranked Monroe University barely broke a sweat, as the Mustangs whipped Lackawanna College men's basketball, 101-59, in non-region action on Thursday night inside the historic Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium.
 
The Falcons (15-14) were hoping to give the Lackawanna fans in attendance a big performance, as Lackawanna celebrated its nine sophomores before the contest, but the Division I #17 Mustangs (23-4) trailed for just 43 seconds throughout the game, with the only Lackawanna lead coming after Xavier Spears (Brooklyn, NY) hit a three-pointer from the top of the key just a minute in to make it 5-3. 30 seconds later, Monroe hit a three-pointer to go ahead and never trail again.
 
Monroe scored 54 points in the first half, shooting 49% from the field and hitting eight three-point shots. On the flip-side, the Mustang defense limited the Falcons to just 24% from the floor in the first half, suffocating the Lackawanna guards and keeping the Falcons from driving and penetrating.
 
Monroe shot 49% for the game and hit 15 three-pointers, putting five players in double-figures. Jago Robinson led the Mustangs with 17 points off the bench, while Naceiar Kirksey scored 16 points. Nick Williams added 14 points off the pine. Monroe had a 20-4 advantage in points on turnovers, and the Mustangs outscored Lackawanna 18-8 on second-chance points.
 
The Falcons shot 26% from the field for the game and were just 4-for-24 from downtown. Sophomore Elijah Smith (Washington, D.C.) led the way with 16 points and ten rebounds, while fellow sophomore Jahsan Simms (Hillside, NJ) put up ten points.
 
The win for Monroe marks the 600^th career win for head coach Jeff Brustad, now in his 23^rd year with the Mustangs. The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for Lackawanna College. The Falcons are back to work on Saturday, February 21^st, with a non-region road game at Cecil College. Tip is set for 3:00pm ET inside Cecil's Physical Education building, and the game is the second in a doubleheader, with the women's teams playing first at 1:00pm ET.