NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Monroe Express men's basketball took to their home court Tuesday evening for the second half of a doubleheader, defeating the Hostos Community College Caimans, 74-63, in a 2022 Region 15 Tournament rematch inside the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Express' updated record climbs to 7-4 (4-2 Region 15) and the Caimans fall to 7-4 (4-1 Region 15). 

Jovan Young broke the scoring mold early from downtown off an Andrew Molina feed. Jasigha Barnes capitalized off a Caimans miscue and finished a layup on the fastbreak. Hostos answered with a Jaysin Pichardo 3-pointer followed by a  steal and feed to Randolph Charles on the break to knot the game at 5-5. The Express got off to the races scoring 11 straight points, including an Abubakar Kromah offensive rebound and score. Hostos would not let go as they answered with 11 straight points of their own to even the score at 16-16. Quame' Smith ignited the Monroe offense with a thunderous dunk at the 11:23 mark, followed by a 23-10 run to end the first half, leaving the score at 43-28, putting the Express advantage at 15 points.

The Caimans would not be silenced as they began the second period, chipping away at the lead on a 13-3 run, including a Justice Carrington 3-pointer followed by an and-one layup to bring Hostos within five. Young ended their run with an interior basket, then a Barnes long range jumper to raise the lead back to 13 points. At the 10:23 mark, Carrington scored off a Rashad Ramserran feed, to cut the lead to nine points, but this is the closest the Caimans would be for the rest of the game. Both teams would go back and forth for the rest of the stanza, with the Express maintaining their double digit lead, which eventually led to the 74-63 final. 

Barnes and Young led all scorers with 17 points, with the former adding two steals, one assist, one rebound and one block to his statline and the latter registering a season-high five steals, two assists and one steal. Kromah completed his fifth double-double of the season and fourth straight, with 12 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block. Molina pitched in nine points and six rebounds, Oramis Figuereo added nine points and five rebounds, and Quame' Smith contributed eight points, nine rebounds and one steal.

The Express wrap up their homestand Saturday (Dec. 10) for a Region 15 contest against the Rockland Community College Hawks inside the Monroe Athletic Complex in New Rochelle, NY at 3 PM.

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.
 
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).