NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., December 9, 2017 – The Monroe Express men's basketball team fell in their first-ever matchup with their intercampus foe, the Monroe Mustangs, 102-59, in game one of the Monroe College Roundball Classic on Saturday at the Monroe Athletic Complex.
 
Led by Jessy Jimenez' 12 first-half points, the Express hung around against the Mustangs and headed into halftime trailing by just 12. At the half, the Express had outrebounded and outshot the Mustangs, but 12 first-half turnovers had helped the Mustangs out to a 49-37 lead.
 
But in the second half, the Express struggled to find their range in the second half, shooting just 27.3 percent and allowing the Mustangs to pull away with a 102-59 victory.
 
Jovan Bellamy led the Express with 15 points, falling two rebounds shy of a double-double, while Jimenez and Gian Batista each finished with 14. Julio Santos Paulino joined the trio in double-figures with a season-high 10 points to go along with five rebounds and an assist.
 
With the loss, the Express drop to 2-9 on the season.
 
The Express are back in action when they host Prestige Preparatory Academy on Saturday, Dec. 23 at 12 p.m. at the Monroe Athletic Complex.

ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 26 teams competing across nine sports. There are 18 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's rugby, and the newly added club women's rugby team, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of Monroe's Bronx campus has six teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level beginning with their inaugural seasons in the fall of 2017.
 
For more information about the Monroe Express, please visit us at www.MonroeExpress.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe Express), Twitter (@MonroeExpress) and Instagram (@MonroeExpress).