NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The second-seeded Monroe College – Bronx men's basketball team earned a thrilling come-from-behind overtime victory in the quarterfinal round of the Region 15 Tournament over Queensborough Community College, by a score of 77-76, at the Monroe Athletic Complex on Tuesday evening. The Express will now compete in the regional semifinals on Saturday evening against third-seeded Hostos Community College, at Kingsborough Gymnasium, at 6:00 p.m.
 
The hero of the game for the Express (20-10) was sophomore forward Abubakar Kromah, who hit the game-winning free throw that broke a 76-76 tie with 2.3 seconds left in the overtime period. Then, the Express' strong defense prevented the Tigers (7-16) from getting a shot off before the final buzzer. 
 
There were six lead changes during the overtime period before Kromah's heroics sealed the win for Monroe. 
 
"Tonight's victory was a testament to our character and competitiveness," Express Head Coach Chris Neely said. "We earned the right to play another game and at this time of year it's all about surviving and advancing."
 
Kromah finished the evening with a double-double, scoring 25 points and grabbing 15 rebounds, while delivering four assists, blocking two shots, and forcing a pair of steals. Sophomore guard Jovan Young also helped the Express by scoring 16 points, snatching seven boards, distributing four assists, and collecting a trio of steals. 
 
Second-year guard Vashaun Wallace dished out a game-best 10 assists, forced five steals, grabbed three rebounds, blocked a pair of shots, and added three points for Monroe. Sophomore guard Jaream Eason provided energy off the bench with 16 points and five rebounds. 
 
The Tigers got off to a strong start, taking an 8-2 lead 3:25 into the contest. The Express got on track with seven unanswered points, capped off by a triple from Young, to jump out in front by one. Later in the stanza, the Express trailed 18-17. Wallace forced a steal and then executed a fast-break layup to put the Blue and Gold ahead again, 19-18. That sparked an 8-2 run which was concluded by a fast-break layup from Young to extend Monroe's lead to 25-19 with 5:52 left before the break. Both teams went into the locker rooms with the Express protecting a 31-26 advantage.
 
Monroe – Bronx built its lead up to 10 during the early stages of the second half. However, Queensborough responded with six straight points to cut its deficit to 38-34 with 15:45 to go. Later in the final regulation period. The Tigers came all the way back as a pair of free throws from sophomore forward Bryan Godette pushed the Tigers in front, 47-46, with 10:11 left to play. 
 
Monroe went on a run to go back ahead, 53-48, with 6:54 to go but Queensborough kept hanging around. They eventually tied the contest late, as a layup by sophomore guard Isaiah Grant knotted the game up at 61 points with 2:15 to go. 
 
Fast forward to just over 30 seconds remaining in regulation, and the game tied at 62. Queensborough had the ball, but Kromah intercepted the opposing team's pass attempt and sprinted down the court. He launched a mid-range shot while falling and the ball swished into the net to give the Express a 64-62 edge with 30 seconds left. The Tigers answered with a bucket to tie it up with 12 ticks left on the clock. Kromah struck again with another successful mid-range jump shot to put Monroe back in front by two with just five seconds to go. 
 
After a Queensborough timeout, they had one last chance to tie it or win it. Freshman forward Williams Guzman drove to the basket a converted a layup while being fouled with 0.4 seconds left on the clock. The Tigers earned a chance to hit a free throw that would all but seal the victory. Monroe called two consecutive timeouts. The strategy worked as Queensborough missed the potential game-winning free throw and overtime was needed.
 
The Express got off on the right footing in the extra period as Kromah connected on a jump shot to allow his team to regain the lead, at 68-66, just 30 seconds in. Later in the period, with Monroe up by one, Guzman grabbed an offensive rebound and provided a putback bucket to give the visiting team a 72-71 advantage with 1:47 to go. Young helped the Express regain the lead on the other end thanks to a layup. Guzman struck again with 58 ticks on the clock by connecting on a bucket from the paint to put QCC ahead again, 74-73. 
 
On Monroe's next possession, Wallace found sophomore guard Derrick Simpson who drained a crucial 3-point basket to catapult the Express in front, 76-74, with 43 seconds left. Queensborough countered with a successful layup by Godette to even up the contest at 76 points apiece with 24 seconds left. 
 
Monroe did not call a timeout and inbounded the ball right away from their end of the floor and hustled down the court. Kromah drove to the basket and drew a foul with 2.3 seconds left, awarding him two chances at the charity stripe to break the tie. He missed the first one. Then, he collected himself and drained the second attempt to give Monroe a narrow 77-76 vantage with just a couple of seconds left. 
 
The Tigers could not get a shot off and Monroe sealed the playoff win and its spot in the regional semifinals.
 
For the Express, Simpson scored nine points and grabbed three rebounds. Sophomore forward Jevonté Valerie  provided six points and seven boards.
 
For the Tigers, Guzman had a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. 
 
For updates regarding Monroe's semifinal game against Hostos on Saturday, check out MonroeExpress.com as well as our social media channels. 

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).