NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Keeping their winning ways alive, Monroe Express men's basketball returned to Monroe Athletic Complex for a Region 15 bout against the Borough of Manhattan Community College Panthers, resulting in a 68-44 statement victory. 

In the early moments, the Express were able to create separation, highlighted by a Jasigha Barnes steal and feed to Andrew Molina for the midrange jumper, followed by a Molina pick-off and score on the fast break. Babacar Niang then capitalized on the Panthers turnover with a layup to raise the advantage to six points, three minutes into the game. Both teams went scoreless for a few minutes before Jeremiah Cardi got inside the lane for a bucket, followed by two Adewale Fasanmi free throws that cut the Monroe lead to one. Despite the brief BMCC momentum, the Express would commence a 14-0 run over the next six minutes of play that opened up a 14 point cushion. After a Niang offensive rebound and putback with 43 seconds, Siddiq NcNair drilled a corner buzzer-beating 3-pointer off a Barnes feed to go into the intermission with a 13 point lead.

Ysaia Marte opened up the second half for the Panthers, with a layup off a Boubacar Mbaye pass. Marte would score again, trimming the lead to single digits, before Abubakar Kromah answered to end the brief run. The turning point in the period came at the 10:44 mark, where Niang would finish a fast break layup off a McNair dime, increasing the Express advantage to 16 points. Jeream Eason gave Monroe a spark off the bench, stealing a Panthers inbound pass and knocking down a layup through a Victor Cruz foul. Maintaining a 15 point lead, Jordan Wilson would come in the game and immediately hit from downtown. In the waning moments of the stanza, Timothy Charles would make his presence known with an emphatic block on a Marte drive, followed by a layup in the final seconds to settle the final at 68-44, a 24 point rout, which was the largest lead of the game. 

It was a balanced offensive night for the Express, with Kromah leading with 10 points, nine rebounds, five steals, two assists and one block. McNair followed with nine points, six rebounds and one assist. Niang added eight points, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Vashaun Wallace pitched in seven points and eight rebounds with three assists, while Anthony Bannister had seven points and seven rebounds in 13 minutes of play.

The Express led the game in points in the paint (52-26), rebounds (47-37), bench points (38-5), second chance points (14-5), fast break points (14-4), assists (12-3), steals (13-5) and field goal percentage (37.5 to 29.1). The Panthers owned the edge in from long range (27.3 to 14.3 percent) and blocks (7-6). 

The Express travel to Hostos Community College on Thursday (Jan. 19) for a crosstown Region 15 rivalry game inside The Swamp at 8 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).