LINCROFT, N.J. – The Monroe University – Bronx men's basketball team opened the 2026-27 season with a pair of losses at the Brookdale Community College Classic this past weekend.
Monroe had a strong effort against the nationally ranked No. 1 team in the country and defending National Champion Northen Essex Community College but lost by a score of 73-65. That game occurred on Saturday. The next day, the Express fell to host-Brookdale, 79-65. Both events took place at Robert J. Collins Arena.
Against the No. 1 Knights (1-0), the Express had a 35-31 lead at halftime, but Northern Essex won the second half, 42-30, to earn the come-from-behind win.
Andi Metaliaj registered 14 points and four rebounds for the Blue and Gold, while
Caleb Dunn generated 13 points, four boards, and three assists.
Jalonie Pittman had a solid game with 10 points, three helpers, two boards, and just as many steals.
Also helping Monroe was
Haley Guillen who notched eight points, three steals, a trio of assists, and two caroms.
Ibrahim Konate compiled six points, five rebounds, two assists, and just as many steals in his collegiate debut.
Damien Maldonado and
Kanaz Linder each scored seven points, with the latter picking up five rebounds and three assists in the first college game of his career.
Tristian Wynn had three rebounds and two assists.
Against Brookdale (2-0), the Express (0-2) got off to a strong start as a pair of 3-point field goals from Dunn helped Monroe jump out to an 8-6 advantage. The Jersey Blues catapulted to a 9-8 lead but then Pittman executed a layup to put Monroe back in front, 10-9, with 14:34 to go in the opening half.
From that point, Brookdale took over with 15 straight points to snatch a commanding 24-10 hold with 7:51 left to play in the half. Brookdale never surrendered the lead and went on to earn the win.
Dunn had a strong game for Monroe with 21 points, shot 4-for-5 from beyond the arc, grabbed eight rebounds, forced five steals, and delivered three assists. Pittman put up 12 points, six caroms, four assists, and two steals. Linder tallied five rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Off the bench, Guillen netted eight points for the Express. Wynn finished with seven points, two boards, and a pair of steals.
Wilson Worlanyo Dzah had six points and two assists.
This season, Monroe – Bronx faces a challenging schedule as they look to make its third straight appearance in the Region 15 Final, and this time get over the hump and win it. Four games will be against nationally ranked opponents in the regular season.
The full 2026-27 Express men's basketball schedule can be seen
here.
It's a young team for Monroe this year as nine of the 14 players on the roster are newcomers. The sophomore class will feature Metaliaj, Pittman, Dunn, Guillen, and Maldonado.
Chris Neely returns for his sixth season (seventh including the corona-virus canceled season). He will once again be assisted by
Marktise Brown,
Michael Cintron, and
Isaac Martinez. New to the coaching staff this year is
Malek Ibrahem and
Kevin Benjamin.
The full 2026-27 Express men's basketball roster can be seen
here.
Check out
www.Instagram.com/MonroeExpress for preseason video interviews with Coach Neely, as well as players Pittman and Dunn.
The Express will open Region 15 play on Thursday evening at Queensborough Community College. Tipoff at RFK Gymnasium will be at 7:30 p.m.
For updates throughout the 2026-27 Express men's basketball season, check out
www.MonroeExpress.com as well as our social media channels.
For more information about the Monroe Express, please visit us at
www.MonroeExpress.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (
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@MonroeExpress), Instagram (
@MonroeExpress), and Threads (
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