New Rochelle, N.Y., January 11, 2021 – The new year began three days earlier than expected for the Monroe Express men's basketball team when they got the opportunity to fill an opening slot in the first game of the Monroe College Classic against nationally ranked No. 15 Cecil College. The Express had a solid showing and provided a stern test early in the first half against the Seahawks but eventually fell 93-59 on Saturday afternoon at Monroe Athletic Complex. The Express move to 11-5 overall (6-2 Region XV) with the victory, while the Tigers drop to 6-4 (4-2 Region XV) with the loss.

Two Express players put up 20 point performances on the evening, with sophomore Onterio Miller (Bronx, New York) again coming off the bench to drop a game and career-high 22 points, 19 of them in the second half, and six three-pointers. Classmate Isaiah Stone (Baldwin, New York) put up his team-leading eleventh double-double, scoring 20 points and grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds. Sophomore Issac Johnson (Bronx, New York) and Babacar Niang (Harlem, New York) also hauled down double-digit rebounds with 12 apiece, while Jasigha Barnes (Baldwin, New York) dished out a game-best four assists and tied for another with classmate Chad Duke (Brooklyn, New York) with two blocks. Sophomore Jabnel Cordero (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico) also helped on defense, snagging a team-best four steals.

The Express dominated on the glass for their second 60 plus rebounding effort on the season and controlled the rebounding margin by 34, outrebounding the Tigers 63-29. Monroe-Bronx buried 10 or more three-pointers for the second time this season while outscoring the visitors in the paint 38-18 and getting 37 of their 77 points from their bench.
 
In the first half, the Express exploded out of the gate, jumping out to a 27-9 advantage when Duke threw down a thunderous dunk off of a feed from Cordero on a fastbreak. Monroe-Bronx stretched their lead to 20, 42-22, for the first time on the night on a Barnes jumper at 2:39, and carried it into the halfway point to lead 45-24 on a Johnson three-pointer with 21 seconds left.
 
Queensborough started the second half strong to get the Express lead down to 13, 49-26 at 18:33 when Tristan Vanwest went 1-for-2 at the line. However, Monroe-Bronx took over from that point on, building their lead to 33, 65-32, the largest of the night on a Miller three-pointer at 10:15, and coasted the rest of the way to victory.
 
Queensborough Community College had two players in double-figures, with Khari Ojeda-Harvey leading the way with a team-high 19 points. Brian Foster finished with 14 points while also tying a team-best with eight rebounds. Ojeda-Harvey also was the Tigers defensive leader with a game-high four steals.
 
The Express will look for back-to-back victories on Thursday, January 13, against Omnia Basketball Academy at 6 p.m. at the Monroe Athletic Complex. 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).