Garden City, NY, February 15, 2021 – Nassau Community College shot a whopping 61.3 percent from the field (19-of-31) to break open a two-point game midway through the first half to upend the Monroe Express men's basketball team in their season finale, 87-68, on Tuesday evening in Garden City, New York. The loss ends the Express's two-game winning streak concluding their regular season with 19-9 (11-5 Region XV) while the Lions improve to 14-6 (9-5 Region XV).
The game was initially scheduled to be played at the Monroe Athletic Complex. However, it was moved early in the morning as the facility served as a shelter for those affected by a devastating fire in New Rochelle the night before.
The loss ends the Express's two-game winning streak concluding their regular season with 19-9 (11-5 Region XV) while the Lions improve to 14-6 (9-5 Region XV).
The upperclassmen carried the torch offensively for the Express, with sophomore
Isaiah Stone (Baldwin, New York) posting his team-leading 15th double-double with game-high 24 points and a team-high 11 boards. Classmate
Issac Johnson (Bronx, New York) also contributed 14 points while freshman
Jasigha Barnes (Baldwin, New York) dished out a game-best seven assists. Underclassman
Siddiq McNair (Philadelphia, Pennslyvania) also grasped a team-best three steals.
Nassau Community College connected on outshot the Express 55.2% from the field (32-of-58) to 41.9% (26-of-62). The Lions controlled the boards 35-23 and edged Monroe-Bronx in the paint 42-40. Both team's benches also showed out, with the Express scoring 33 points and Nassau 31 points off the bench.
Nassau Community College never trailed the entire night, finally separating themselves on the scoreboard in the final 10:39 of the first half, outscoring Monroe-Bronx 30-13 and going the halftime break with a 48-29 lead. The Lions kept their foot on the gas during the first seven and half minutes of the second half outscoring the Express 24-9 to build their lead to its largest of the night, 34, 72-38 on an Ahunna Okoko steal and flush at 12:31. Nassau coasted after to an 87-68 win.
Four players carried the offensive workload for Nassau Community College, combining for 75 of the 87 points. The Lions also had three players with 20-point performances in the contest as Keyshawn Kennedy dropped a team-high 23 points and brought down a game-high 14 boards while also handing out six assists and a team-best. Shabue Mosley scored 21 points and Ahunna Okoko came off the bench to add 20 points of his own. Timothy Waite also registered 11 points and tied Volken Levent for a team-best in steals with two.
The Express are done for the regular season and are currently tied with Hostos Community College for the second seed for the 2021 Region 15 Tournament. Monroe-Bronx will have the opportunity to host a quarterfinal matchup next Tuesday, February 22, at the Monroe Athletic Complex. For more information on the time of the matchup, please 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).
