ROCKVILLE, MD – Monroe Express men's basketball split a pair of games in the Rockville Tip-off Tourney, dropping a game to the Montgomery College-Rockville Raptors. The final score in the contest 88-68, and the Express' record goes to 3-1 on the season, and the Raptors move to 1-0.

After taking the first contest of their weekend, the Express weren't able to replicate that magic against the Raptors. Jasigha Barnes broke the scoring ice for the blue and gold, sliding in for a layup off the deadball rebound. Monroe-Bronx quickly found themselves trailing by double digits, after a Abubakar Kromah miscue put Marcus Rodgers in scoring position. The Express went on a five point scoring spurt to trim the lead to six at 9-15, but soon saw themselves behind by 11 points, playing from behind for majority of the half, until a Kromah layup to beat the buzzer trimmed the lead to seven as both teams entered the intermission.

Monroe-Bronx struck first in the second half, after a Quame' Smith jumper moved the Express within five points. Montgomery would have an answer for every Express run, as an Aljaz VIdmar layup extended the lead back to 11 points. The Express would attempt to claw back, trimming the deficit back to five points, but the Raptors would go on a 19-2 run to push the lead to 52-71 and not look back.

Barnes led the way for the Express with 15 points, five rebounds, two assists and one block. Smith followed behind with 12 points, four rebounds and one steal. Kromah registered back-to-back games with double-digit rebounds with 11, in addition to 10 points and one assist. Jaream Eason added 10 points in 14 minutes of action off the bench.

The Express will get four days of rest, and take on the Borough of Manhattan Community College Panthers on Thursday (Nov. 17) in Region 15 action at 7 PM inside BMCC Gymnasium.

ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 35 teams competing across nine sports. There are 21 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 and men's volleyball programs, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 14 teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
 
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