New Rochelle, N.Y., December, 5 2021 – A pair of Express players recorded double-doubles as Monroe Express men's basketball fought back to erase a five-point halftime deficit en route to an 89-73 bounceback home victory over Bryant and Stratton Saturday afternoon at Monroe Athletic Complex. The Express improve to 7-2 on the season with the victory, and the Bobcats drop to 2-4 with loss.

Two Express players recorded double-doubles on the afternoon. Sophomore Isaiah Stone (Baldwin, New York) led the way with his team-leading sixth on the season, dropping a game-high 24 points and grabbing 16 rebounds, while classmate Issac Johnson (Bronx, New York) posted his first on the year with 16 points and 12 boards. Fellow sophomore Onterio Miller (Bronx, New York) contributed 12 points on the afternoon while freshman Jasigha Barnes (Baldwin, New York) dished out five assists and snatched five steals, both game-best.

After four ties and three lead changes over the first 11:48 of the first half, Bryant and Stratton would outscore the Express 21-15 down the stretch to take a 44-38 advantage into halftime. 

The Express came out like a house on fire in the second half, putting together a 12-0 run - eight points from Stone and four from Cordero - to lead 50-44 at the 16:01 mark. Mikhir Jackson knocked down a jumper at 14:33 to get the Bobcats back within two, 50-48, before the Express got it back up to 10, 64-54 at 8:46 on an Stone layup. Monroe-Bronx kept their lead in double digits for the rest of the way, building it up to 18, 73-57, at the 6:00 mark on a tip-in from Johnson and rolling the rest of the way to victory 89-73.

For Bryant and Stratton, Mesiah Woods showed out with a team-high 22 point effort while Mikhir Jackson and Dean Lockley chipped in with 16 points apiece, and each hauled down a team-best tied seven rebounds.

The Monroe Express are off for the next five days before heading on the road next Saturday, December 10, against Regional opponent Rockland Community College at 2 p.m. in Suffern, New York. Please visit the Monroe Express Men's Basketball Schedule Page for more information.

Notables 

• Isaiah Stone (Baldwin, New York) recorded his team-leading third 20 point performance and sixth double double on the season. He also has six double digit rebounding game which is also tops on the squad.
• Stone also leads the Express with seven double figure games.
• Jasigha Barnes (Baldwin, New York) has now recorded four or more assists in six out of nine games this season and has dished out two or more in all nine.
• Barnes also snagged a career-best five steals in back to back contests and three or more in six out of nine games this season.
• Issac Johnson (Bronx, New York) hauled down double-digit rebounds for the third time this season and finished in double figures for the first time on the year.
• Onterio Miller (Bronx, New York) scored in double figures for the third straight time and the fifth time on the season.

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).