NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Monroe Express men's basketball returned to their home court Tuesday evening in Region 15 fashion resulting in a 75-74 setback against the Queensborough Community College Tigers. With the loss, the Express fall to 9-8 (5-3 Region 15), and the Tigers move to 6-5 (4-2 Region 15).

In his first start of the season, Babacar Niang broke the scoring ice for the Express off an Abubakar Kromah pass, followed by a Zacharie Nyanid score from Preston Harts. Andrew Molina would then knock down a long ball off a Jasigha Barnes feed to increase the lead to three. Monroe would begin to create some separation at the 15:26 mark after a Barnes 3-pointer increased the advantage to seven points. Both teams would trade baskets, until a flurry of jumpers saw the Express go in front by 13 points with 50 percent of the period remaining. Queensborough would not go away, as the Tigers embarked on a 10-2 run to trim the lead to five points, capped off by an Anthony Walters layup from Bryan Godette. Jovan Young got to the cup followed by a Vashaun Wallace mid-range jumper that put the lead back up to nine points, in an attempt to keep the Tigers out of striking distance. Walters would capitalize on an and-one layup with 40 seconds left in the stanza, to trim the lead to six, going into the halftime break. 

Stephon Flores got to the rack in the opening moments of the second half, cutting the lead to four points in the process. Barnes knocked down a 3-pointer from Niang to push the lead back up to seven. At the 14:55 mark, Rohan Singh connected with the hoop and the harm to get the Tigers within two points, the closest they have been since the early moments. Niang responded with two back to back buckets to create separation, before a Walters layup kept Queensborough within striking distance. The Express would then commence on a 12-5 run that saw them lead by 10 points during that stretch. Both teams would go scoreless for two minutes before a Kromah score pushed the lead to five. At the 1:01 mark, Walters would answer Kromah with a big time score to put QCC within one point. After a Barnes miscue with 25 seconds left, the Tigers would take the Express to the final moments, after a Niang foul put Harts at the free throw line, where he would knock down both, giving Queensborough their first lead of the game at 75-74. Out of the timeout, Young would miss a potential game winning shot, as the Tigers escaped with the narrow victory.

In the end, Kromah led the Express with 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists and one steal. Barnes followed with 13 points, eight rebounds, five assists and one block. Niang added 10 points, one assist and one rebound. 

The Express continue at home Thursday (Jan. 12) in non-conference action against the College of Mount Saint Vincent JV inside Monroe Athletic Complex in New Rochelle, NY at 6 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.
 
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