THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – The Monroe College – Bronx men's basketball team earned a thrilling come-from-behind overtime victory in Region 15 play against Queensborough Community College, 70-65, on Thursday, November 9. The contest took place at Monsignor Scanlan Gymnasium.
 
The Express (2-0, 1-0 Region 15) trailed by seven with 5:20 remaining in regulation time, but then they finished the second half strong with a 9-2 run to force overtime. In the extra session, Monroe outscored Queensborough (0-3, 0-2 Region 15), 15-10, to earn the big early-season victory.
 
Leading the way for Monroe – Bronx was sophomore forward Abubakar Kromah who tallied a double-double with 28 points and 10 rebounds, while forcing three steals and dishing out just as many assists. Second-year guard Jovan Young generated 13 points, three assists, and a pair of steals.
 
Also contributing for the Express was sophomore guard Vashaun Wallace who had nine points and seven boards, while second-year forward Anthony Bannister brought down a game-high 14 rebounds and scored four points. Freshman guard Steven McGriff had a solid game off the bench with eight points, three caroms, and just as many steals, while sophomore guard Jaream Eason produced four points with five boards.
 
The two teams were neck and neck and back and forth throughout the first half. The Express gained a little bit of breathing room in the late stages of the opening stanza, as a successful and one three-point play by Bannister gave the Express their largest lead of regulation at 33-28 with 3:10 left before the break. However, Queensborough scored four unanswered points to pull to within one, with 1:18 to go. Each team exchanged layups during the final minute so Monroe – Bronx entered the break with a 35-34 edge.
 
The Tigers had a strong start to the second half by going on an 8-4 run to jump out in front, 42-39. Wallace answered for the Express with a 3-point shot to tie it up at 42 points apiece with 11:56 remaining in regulation time. 
 
Queensborough took over the game with seven straight points to take a commanding 49-42 vantage with 7:14 to go. Kromah ended Monroe's scoring drought, that lasted 4:53, by converting a layup to pull the Express to within five with 7:03 remaining.
 
The Tigers answered right back as a pair of free throws courtesy of sophomore guard Yasin Abdur-Rashid regained Queensborough's largest lead of the game, 51-44, with 6:50 remaining. After each team exchanged 2-point field goals, the Tigers still led by seven with 6:03 to go.
 
Everything turned around for Monroe – Bronx as Young connected on a triple to pull his team to within four with 5:19 left. Less than a minute later, Kromah drained two free throws to shrink the Express' deficit to two, at 53-51. 
 
Flash forward to 1:10 left to play and Monroe trailing by a score of 55-53 with the ball. Young dribbled and then connected on a jump shot from outside the paint to even the game up. Queensborough had the ball in the closing seconds with a chance to win it, but its three-point shot missed the mark and then Kromah grabbed the defensive rebound. As a result, overtime was needed.
 
The Express won the tip and struck right away as Kromah connected on a jumper, while being fouled. He nailed the free throw to complete the traditional three-point play and give the Express a 58-55 advantage. Kromah struck again on Monroe's next possession as he buried a 3-point field goal to extend the Express' benefit to six, at 61-55, much to the delight of the raucous fans at Monsignor Scanlan Gymnasium. 
 
Later in the extra period, the Express managed to build their lead to nine. Queensborough finally scored its first points of the overtime session, thanks to a triple by Abdur-Rashid, to pull to within six with 2:26 left to play. Over a minute later, the Tigers managed to make it a one-possession game thanks to a successful shot from beyond the arc by sophomore guard Isaiah Grant to narrow Monroe's lead to 64-61 with 1:15 left. Young was fouled on the other end of the floor and hit a pair of key free throws to put Monroe back up by five with 1:11 to go.
 
The Express managed to get a stop on the defensive side and then was able to inflate its advantage thanks to a jump shot by sophomore forward Jevonté Valerie to pad their lead to 68-61 with 38 ticks left on the clock. Queensborough did manage to score the next four points to pull to within one score, at 68-65, with 26 seconds left, but then Monroe iced the game with free throws in the closing seconds to earn the 70-65 overtime victory.
 
For the Tigers, Abdur-Rashid and Grant each scored 13 points, while freshman guard Kevon Clark had a double-double with 10 points and just as many rebounds.
 
Monroe – Bronx will travel to Lincroft, N.J. this weekend for the Brookdale Community College Tournament. The Express will battle Community College of Rhode Island on Saturday, November 11, at 12:00 p.m. at Robert J. Collins Arena. 
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 31 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 seven 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/X (@MonroeExpress), Instagram (@MonroeExpress), and Threads (@MonroeExpress).