SUFFOLK, Va. – The Monroe University – men's basketball team concluded its three-game Virginia road trip with a triumphant victory over Paul D. Camp Community College, 76-74, at Lakeland Gymnasium on Saturday.

Monroe finishes the Virginia tour with a 2-1 record and advances its overall mark this season to 11-4. 

The key to the game was the free-throw shooting as Monroe went 38-for-45 (84.4%) from the charity stripe, while Camp only converted 14 out of 28 attempts (50.0%).

"Tonight's victory was hard-fought," Express Head Coach Chris Neely said. "We got better over this trip and got better every night on the defensive end. Players got better and understood our system."

Steven McGriff went 15-for-18 (83.3%) from the free-throw line and scored 21 points, tying a game best, while grabbing three rebounds during the afternoon. McGriff is now the program's all-time leader in free throws made in a game with 15. The previous record was 13 by Vashaun Wallace on January 11, 2024 against Community College of Rhode Island at Monsignor Scanlan Gym.  

Also helping the Express during the win over Camp (4-6) was Michael Samuda who tied a career-high with 17 points and shot 5-for-10 from the floor (50.0%), while grabbing four rebounds, distributing three assists, and forcing three steals. Paolo Avvento tallied 15 points, seven rebounds, a duo of helpers, and just as many steals. 

McGriff nailed four free throws across two trips to the charity stripe early on, with the first pair occurring on a technical foul 1:08 into the game and the second duo of attempts taking place due to a shooting foul a couple of seconds later, to give Monroe the lead for good at 4-2. Later in the opening half, Samuda converted a jump shot that capped off a 7-0 run for the Express which extended their vantage to 24-13 with 9:23 remaining in the first period. Monroe led by 12 (27-15) after a 3-pointer from Avvento with 7:43 to go until the break.

The Hurricanes chipped away and then a 3-point field goal by Calvin Beatty sliced Monroe's edge to just three, at 38-35, with 34 seconds remaining. On the next Monroe possession, Samuda drew a foul and drained two free throws with nine seconds left to extend the Express' lead to 40-35 and that was the score after 20 minutes of play. 

Camp scored the first five points of the second stanza to tie it up at 40. The Express answered with two free throws each from Jalonie Pittman and McGriff to propel Monroe back to the lead at 44-40. Those shots from the charity stripe began a 9-2 run for the Express, concluded by a 3-point field goal courtesy of Samuda, to give the Blue and Gold a 49-42 hold with 14:22 to go.

Fast forward to 7:28 remaining. Avvento drained two free throws to inflate the Blue and Gold's cushion to 62-53. Camp turned the momentum to its favor by going on a 9-2 run to slice the Express' benefit to 64-62 with 4:43 remaining. 

Monroe was able to fight off the opposition by hitting key free throws, plus a layup from McGriff, to eventually build its lead to 71-65 with 1:41 to go.

Beatty kept the Hurricanes in it with a free throw and then a layup to narrow his team's deficit to just one possession, at 71-68, with 1:13 left.

It eventually became a 73-70 contest in favor of Monroe with 28 ticks on the clock. After the Express drained some time, Adrian Rosario was fouled with 11 seconds remaining. He nailed both free throws to give his team more breathing room at 75-70. Beatty countered with another layup to make it a one-possession game with six seconds remaining in regulation. 

Samuda was fouled intentionally with five ticks to go which sent him to the line for a chance to clinch the game for Monroe. He missed the first attempt but drained the second to make it a two-possession game at 76-72. Camp added a basket at the final buzzer, but it was not enough as Monroe earned the win, 76-74.

Also helping the Blue and Gold during the evening was Rosario who grabbed four rebounds and dished out just as many assists. Pittman tallied seven points and three rebounds. Andi Metaliaj generated seven points and four boards. Malike Smart finished with five points and three assists. 

For Camp, Geoorge Porter had 21 points, and shot 6-for-10 from the field, while grabbing five caroms. Beatty netted 16 points. Malike Smith generated five points, seven rebounds, two assists, and a duo of steals. Omarion Ferguson snatched seven caroms. 

Monroe – Bronx will host Bryant & Stratton College – Virginia Beach (JV), in the second head-to-head matchup between the two teams this season, on Saturday, January 10. The contest will be part of the Monroe University Mustangs Men's Basketball/Junior Varsity Men's Basketball Mixer Event at Monroe Athletic Complex. Tipoff is set for 5 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, 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).