New Rochelle, N.Y., December 8, 2021 - On Wednesday evening, the Monroe Express JV men's basketball team suffered a 77-73 home loss to Vision Academy at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Express's second straight loss drops their record to 3-2 on the season.
Four of the five Express starters scored in double figures, and one put up a double-double. Freshmen Darius Rivers (Bronx, New York) and Chamarri Baskerville (Queens, New York) both led the way scoring with a team-high tied 16 points while Rivers hauled down a game-high 15 rebounds for his team-leading second double-double of the season. Leshawn Bryant (Brooklyn, New York) drained 15 points, and Audley Falconer (Bronx, New York) chipped in with 12 points. Bryant also snagged a game-high seven steals while Falconer dished out a team-high three assists. Jordan Wilson (Peekskill, New York) also hauled in 11 rebounds in the contest.
Vision Academy controlled the tempo in the first half from the opening tip building their lead to its biggest of the period 11, 32-21 on Papa Ba's three-pointer at 6:34 and went into halftime with a 45-37 lead.
The Express would not go away in the second half outscoring Vision Academy 12-5 over the first 15:28 to tie it on two free throws by Baskerville courtesy of a Technical foul. Monroe-Bronx retook the lead for the first time since the 16:40 mark of the first half, with Kyle Parks (Yonkers, New York) going a perfect 4-for-4 from the line to increase their lead to 58-54 at the 7:14 mark. After a Wilson layup at 5:33 made it 60-57, Monroe-Bronx Vision Academy would use a 6-2 run to go back in front 63-62 at 3:36 on a Malachi Cothran layup. The Express stayed within one the rest of the way, but Vision Academy would hold them off, taking the game 77-73.
For Vision Academy, James Prescott led all scorers with a game-high 23 points while Malachi Cothran had 15 points and Aj Groham contributed 12 points. Rayshawn Clemente also secured a team-high 11 rebounds, and Keianu Woodard distributed a game-high seven assists in the contest.
The Express have concluded their slate for the 2021 portion of their schedule and return to action in the New Year on Sunday, January 9 at 11 a.m. against Touro College. For more information, visit the Monroe Express JV 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).
