NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., February 14, 2019 – Monroe Express men's basketball fell to the Nassau Community College Lions, 92-88, on Thursday at the Monroe Athletic Complex in an action-packed Region XV matchup.
 
After a back-and-forth start that included two ties and four lead changes, Gian Batista gave the Express a 26-23 lead with 9:46 to go in the first half.
 
The Lions later knotted the score at 36-all with a little over two minutes remaining in the half, but Monroe outscored Nassau, 8-4, to take a 44-40 halftime lead.
 
Batista led the Express with 15 points at the break, while Loquan Deloatch notched a game-high seven assists.
 
Nassau quickly tied the game at 44 to open the second half, and outscored the Express, 22-11 over the first seven minutes to take a seven-point lead. The Lions extended their lead to nine, their largest of the game, before the Express fought back with a 17-9 run to tie the game at 77 with 6:23 to play.
 
Two free throws and a layup for the Lions gave Nassau a four-point lead, but the Express again responded, using a 9-0 run to take an 86-81 lead heading into the final three minutes.
 
Cheyenne Nettleton scored the next seven points to give Nassau a two-point lead, but Christopher Davis hit two free throws to tie things up at 88 with just over 30 seconds left.
 
But the Express couldn't find the bucket and Nettleton hit four more free throws to seal it, as Nassau eked out a 92-88 victory over the Express.
 
With the loss, the Express drop to 12-13 (6-9 Region XV) on the season, while Nassau moves to 20-8 (13-3 Region XV).
 
Ghetty Dimitri Allui led the Express with 27 points, shooting 9-for-16 from the floor and 9-for-10 from the free throw line, while Gian Batista added 24.
 
Christopher Davis recorded his seventh double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Loquan Deloatch fell a point shy of his second with nine points and 11 assists.
 
The Express shot 52.9 percent in the first half, but just 35.3 percent in the second half and couldn't find their range from deep, shooting just 3-for-12 from three.
 
Monroe will try and get back to .500 when they take on Dutchess Community College on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 6 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 29 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 nine varsity and junior varsity 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).