GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – The Monroe University – Bronx men's basketball team earned a thrilling Region 15 overtime victory on the road over nationally ranked No. 14 Nassau Community College, 83-69, at Nassau Main Gym on Thursday evening.
 
The Express remain undefeated in regional play, advancing to 4-0 (6-1 overall). This marks the Lions' first loss of the year as they drop to 4-1 in the region (6-1 overall).
 
Monroe led by as many as 13 in the second half and had an 8-point advantage with 1:47 remaining in regulation. However, Nassau went on a 10-2 run in the final 1:24 to tie the game and force overtime. Monroe took over in the late stages of the overtime session by outscoring the opposition, 15-3, in the final 2:18 to earn the important Region 15 win.
 
"We showed a lot of character tonight to win in overtime on the road versus a ranked team," Express Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Neely said. "We could have folded and didn't."
 
Leading the way for the Express was freshman guard Dimitre Alston who scored a game-high 25 points, shot 7-for-12 from the field, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out four assists, and blocked two shots. First-year guard Paolo Avvento recorded 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting from the floor, collected five steals, gathered three rebounds, and distributed two assists. Rookie guard Michael Samuda finished with 11 points, five rebounds, four steals, and three assists. 
 
Freshman guard Malike Smart had a productive game off the bench for Monroe with 12 points, four rebounds, and three steals. Second-year forward David Malone added seven points, a game-high 11 rebounds, and two blocks.
 
Monroe got off to a slow start in the game, falling behind by a score of 9-4 less than five minutes into the contest. The Express snatched the momentum by going on an 18-4 run in a span of 4:38, capped off by a fast-break layup from Smart, to take a 22-13 lead with 10:03 to go in the half. Later in the period, Smart connected on a jumper to give Monroe a 30-19 benefit with 4:40 to go until the break. Nassau countered with seven straight points to cut its deficit to 30-26 with 1:05 to go. In the closing seconds of the first stanza, Samuda forced a steal and threw an outlet pass to freshman guard Davon Taylor who converted a layup on the fast break just as the buzzer sounded, sending the Express to the locker room with a 32-26 advantage.
 
Nassau got off to a strong start in the second half as a 3-point basket by sophomore guard Donte Howard concluded an 11-4 run to start the period and give the home team a 37-36 edge. The Express then took over the game by scoring 13 unanswered points, wrapped up by a successful jump shot from Alston, to put the Blue and Gold up, 49-37, with 12:07 left to play in the second half. Later in the stanza, Alston converted a layup, while being fouled. He buried the free throw to complete the traditional three-point play to make it 56-43 in favor of Monroe with 9:42 remaining.
 
With Monroe up, 59-46, with 8:13 left on the clock, Nassau rallied with 10 straight points to slice its deficit to three with 3:39 to go. Alston ended Monroe's scoring drought with a jumper to extend his team's lead to 61-56 with 2:57 remaining. That began a run of five straight points for the Express which was capped off by a jump-shot basket from Malone to give Monroe a 64-56 benefit with 1:47 left. The Express seemed to have the game in the bag, but the Lions answered with a 7-1 run, in a span of 58 seconds, to pull the home team to within two with 26 ticks left on the clock.
 
Smart was fouled intentionally with 25 seconds to go. After missing the first free throw, he regained his composure and made the second to extend Monroe's lead to three. 
 
Fast forward to 10 second left. Second-year guard Sebastian Bernard of Nassau was fouled with his team trailing by a score of 66-63. He drained the first free throw. The second one bounced off the rim, but sophomore guard Isiah Lariosa rebounded the ball and tipped it into basket tie the contest at 66 with less than 10 seconds remaining. Monroe had a chance to win the game but could not cash in on a layup attempt as time expired, so overtime was needed.
 
In the extra session, a free throw each by Alston and Smart gave the Express a 68-66 edge. That was all the scoring for the first 2:42 of extra time. Avvento added two free throws to pad Monroe's lead to four with 2:18 remaining. 
 
Nassau countered as a triple by Howard pulled his team to within one, at 70-69, with 1:55 remaining. Alston connected with Malone on the other end who converted a layup while being fouled. He added the free throw to extend Monroe's advantage to 73-69 with 1:37 left. After Monroe forced a stop on the defensive end, Alston executed a layup while being fouled at the same time. He drilled the free throw attempt to complete Monroe's second straight three-point play to pad its lead to 76-69 with 1:07 remaining.
 
Monroe dominated the final minute by outscoring Nassau 7-0 during that span, and completing a 13-0 game-ending run overall, to clinch the key Region 15 win for the Express, 83-69.
 
Howard finished with 24 points, four assists, and three rebounds for Nassau. Bernard added 13 points and four steals. Sophomore guard Sean Walsh generated 11 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Lariosa tallied six points and eight rebounds, while freshman forward Josue Jean provided eight caroms of his own.
 
The Express will travel to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. on Saturday for a clash against nationally ranked No. 10 Dutchess Community College. The important Region 15 matchup at Falcon Gymnasium is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE UNIVERSITY
The athletic program at Monroe University 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 University 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.

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