LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. – The Monroe University – Bronx men's basketball team roared back into the winning column in dominant fashion on Tuesday night, powering past LaGuardia Community College with a convincing 75–54 road victory at the LaGuardia Gymnasium.

The win evens Monroe's record at 2–2 overall and marks their first Region 15 victory (1–1) of the 2025–26 season.

From the opening tip, the Express set the tone with high energy and relentless defense, exploding for 45 first-half points to take a commanding 17-point lead into halftime.

Monroe's intensity never let up—the Blue and Gold owned the glass with 55 rebounds, forced 24 turnovers, and turned defense into offense with 21 points off takeaways.

"Our effort and energy were in the right place which allowed us to compete the way we wanted to," Express Head Coach Chris Neely said.

Steven McGriff led the charge with 16 points, three steals, and two assists, attacking the rim with confidence and sparking the Express on both ends.

Jalonie Pittman dominated inside with 12 rebounds, while Erskin Willingham added 10 points, seven boards, and two blocks, anchoring Monroe's interior defense.

The Express showed their depth, with Paolo Avvento, Andi Metaliaj, and Josmar Acevedo each contributing nine points and key momentum plays.

Point guard Michael Samuda was everywhere, racking up nine assists, 10 rebounds, and two steals, controlling the pace and finding teammates for easy looks. Off the bench, Malike Smart provided a spark with eight points and three steals, keeping the tempo high.

Monroe built its largest lead—27 points—midway through the second half and never looked back, locking down LaGuardia (1-3, 1-3 Region 15) to just 18 percent shooting from three.

With renewed momentum, the Monroe University – Bronx Express will look to carry their energy into Thursday's home matchup against Borough of Manhattan Community College. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. at the Monroe Athletic Complex in New Rochelle, N.Y., as the Express aim to push above .500 and make a statement in Region 15 play.
 
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, 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).