NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., January 8, 2019 – Gian Batista scored a program-record 39 points, but the Monroe Express men's basketball team fell to the Queensborough Community College Tigers, 99-94, in overtime on Tuesday at the Monroe Athletic Complex.
 
After trailing by as many as eight in the first half, Moussa Sanogo and Batista combined for a 5-0 run to close the gap to three, 39-36, heading into halftime.
 
Queensborough though, extended their lead to open the second half, holding a 13-point lead, their largest of the game with 11:31 to play.
 
The Express slowly chipped away at the lead, but still, Monroe never led and headed into the final two minutes down by seven.
 
But an 8-1 run, keyed by five points from Batista, tied the game up at 80, with 35 seconds remaining. And after the Tigers turned the ball over, the Express had a chance to win in regulation. However, Batista's three fell short, and the two teams headed to overtime.
 
Monroe and Queensborough traded buckets to open the overtime period, with the Express scoring first, but a turnover and a missed jumper allowed the Tigers to built a two possession lead to pull ahead.
 
The Express twice cut the deficit down to just two points, but unable to tie it up, they fell, 99-94, in OT. With the loss, Monroe falls to 8-7 (4-6 Region XV), while Queensborough moves to 7-7 (6-6 Region XV).
 
Batista led the way for the Express with a program-record 39 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists, while both Dashawn Hines (26 points and 10 rebounds) and Christopher Davis (12 points and 12 rebounds) recorded double-doubles.
 
Monroe outscored the Tigers, 64-40, in the paint, and 30-13 on second chance opportunities, but were outshot from the three-point and free-throw lines.
 
The Express will look to bounce back from the loss when they host Bronx Community College on Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 8 p.m. at the Monroe Athletic Complex in New Rochelle, N.Y.

ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 27 teams competing across nine sports. There are 18 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus as of the fall of 2017, has seven teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
 
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).