Suffern, N.Y., December, 11 2021 – After a week off to rest up and recoup after four games in seven days, the Monroe Express men's basketball team put forth a solid effort defeating Rockland Community College, 76-69, on the road Saturday afternoon in Suffern, New York. The Express's second straight victory improves their record to 8-2 overall while Rockland falls to 2-9.
Four Players finished the evening in double figures for the Express, with sophomore Isaiah Stone (Baldwin, New York) leading the way with his second straight double-double and his team-leading seventh on the season with a team-high 18 points and game-best 12 rebounds. Stone also collected a team-best tied three steals and swatted away a team-high two shots. Classmate Issac Johnson (Bronx, New York) joined freshman Jasigha Barnes (Baldwin, New York) and Siddiq McNair (Philadelphia, Pennslyvania) with 12 points on the afternoon. Barnes also dished out a team-best four assists and tied for another with three steals.
Sophomores Onterio Miller (Bronx, New York) and Jaiden Simon (Brooklyn, N.Y.) also had nine and seven points, while Babacar Niang (Harlem, New York) had six of his own.
The Express controlled the rebounding margin 42-29 and collected 12 steals, and forced turnovers in the game.
The matchup provided a pendulum of momentum swings from the opening tips, with both squads putting together sizeable runs throughout the contest. After the Express recorded the first seven points, Rockland C.C. countered with a 15-0 run and held Monroe-Bronx scoreless for three and a half minutes to build their lead to eight, 15-7 on a Xavier Kistoo-Miles three-pointer at 13:12.
The Express responded immediately with a 15-3 run of their own to tie it at 17 on a Miller tip-in at 9:37, then took the lead 20-17 on a Stone three-pointer at 8:54. Monroe-Bronx then extended the lead to four, 21-17 on a Miller fast-break layup at 8:18 before a Kistoo-Miles three-pointer cut the Express lead to five, 29-24. After that, the Express constructed an 8-2 run to build the lead to their largest of the first half, 11, 37-26 on a pair of Barnes free-throws at 2:25 and finished the first half up by double digits 40-30 at the halftime mark.
The Express carried that momentum into the second half registering eight of the first 13 points to bring the lead to 13, 48-35, their largest of the game. Rockland C.C. would roar back with an 18-4 run to tie it at 51 on a Josendy Nova left block layup and go back in front 53-52 on a Kistoo-Miles jumper from the free-throw line at 9:42. After a Barnes three-pointer gave Monroe-Bronx the lead back 55-53 at 9:20, Jorge Mercado laid it up to tie it again at 55 at the 9:06 mark.
Rockland would take the lead 61-57, and the final stretch of the game would see the lead change five times and be tied up four times. Barnes picked up a steal and distributed it on a fast break to Johnson, who laid it up while being fouled for a three-point play to tie it at 61, then McNair's left-handed floater at 4:40 tied it again at 63. The Express would score six of the seven points to get the lead to five, 69-64 on a Niang turnaround lefty hook shot at 2:38 before Rockland cut it to two, 69-67 at 2:25 on a Kistoo-Miles three-pointer. That was the closest Rockland C.C. would get as Monroe-Bronx closed the game out on a 7-2 run to win it 76-69.
Rockland Community College had two players put up 20 point performances on the afternoon, with Xavier Kistoo-Miles leading the charge with a game-high 27 points. Josendy Nova registered 22 points while dishing out a team-best four assists and corralling a team-high four steals. Jorge Mercado posted a double-double, grabbing a team-best 10 boards and chipping in with 10 points in the contest.
The Express return home in Regional action to extend their winning streak to three when they host Bronx Community College on December 14 at 7 p.m. at the Monroe Athletic Complex in New Rochelle, New York. For more information, visit the Monroe Express Men's Basketball Schedule page.
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 36 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 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 program, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 17 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).
