THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – The Monroe College – Bronx men's basketball team earned a key Region 15 victory over Suffolk County Community College, 77-61, at Monsignor Scanlan Gymnasium on Tuesday evening. Monroe – Bronx extends its Region 15 winning streak to six games and remains in second place in the regional standings, bumping its record in region play to 10-4 (16-9 overall). The Sharks drop to 9-9 in the region and 9-12 for the season.
 
Leading the way for the Express was sophomore forward Abubakar Kromah who led all players with 22 points and nine rebounds, while dishing out six assists, forcing two steals, and blocking a shot. Second-year guard Vashaun Wallace generated 13 points, a game-best nine assists, five rebounds, two blocks, and a steal. Classmate Jaream Eason scored nine points and clutched just as many caroms.
 
The Express led the contest wire-to-wire. The Blue and Gold surged to a 12-point lead late in the opening half, thanks to a triple by Eason to inflate Monroe's advantage to 27-15 with 3:34 to go. Suffolk County scored five unanswered points to pull to within seven before the Express took a 31-22 advantage into the intermission. 
 
The Sharks inched closer in the second half as a jump shot by freshman guard Rufino Oliva pulled the visiting team to within three, at 37-34, with 14:12 remaining in regulation time. Wallace got the Express back on track with back-to-back jumpers to give his team more breathing room at 41-34.
 
After a triple by rookie forward Joshua Rodriguez shrank the Shark's deficit to 41-37, Monroe seized control of the game by going on a 15-2 run, in a span of 3:06, to take a commanding 56-39 hold with 9:09 to go. Monroe's game-altering blitz was highlighted by two baskets from Kromah and a 3-point field goal each from rookie guards Steven McGriff and Jayden Gamory.
 
The hole was too deep for Suffolk to get out of as they could not generate a consistent run to get back into the contest the rest of the way. The Express led by as many as 20 on their way to the 77-61 victory in Region 15 play and a split of the season series with Suffolk County. 
 
For Monroe, sophomore forward Timothy Charles gathered six rebounds and blocked a pair of shots, to go along with three points. Second-year guard Jovan Young tallied eight points, four rebounds, and two assists, while McGriff netted seven points. Sophomore forward Anthony Bannister produced six points and just as many rebounds. Classmate Derrick Simpson also had six points. 
 
Monroe – Bronx will travel to Brooklyn on Thursday for a Region 15 matchup with Kingsborough Community College. Tipoff at the Kingsborough Gymnasium is set for 8:00 p.m.  

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).