#14 Monroe Dominates Second Half to Secure 79-61 Win Over Bryant & Stratton-Syracuse

ROCHESTER, NY -  In a thrilling home game, the #14-ranked Monroe Community College Tribunes overcame a shaky start to power past Bryant & Stratton-Syracuse with a 79-61 victory. Monroe's strong second-half performance was the key to their win, as they improved their record to 3-1 on the season.

First Half:
Monroe stumbled out of the gate, trailing by five at halftime (39-34). Despite a strong start from Denarius McCurty (Syracuse, NY), who scored 10 first-half points on 4-for-6 shooting, the Tribunes struggled with turnovers and missed opportunities. Alan Garcia (Bronx, NY) anchored the glass early, grabbing seven first-half rebounds, helping lead the Tribs to a 22-19 rebounding advantage in the first half. 

Second-Half:
The second half belonged entirely to Monroe. The Tribunes tightened up defensively, limiting Bryant & Stratton-Syracuse to just 22 points on 36.5% shooting. McCurty was unstoppable, adding 13 points after halftime to finish with a game-high 23 points, shooting an efficient 8-for-10 from the field. His aggression also earned him trips to the line, where he went 6-for-8.

Garcia continued to shine, securing a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds while maintaining a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Latrell Mark (Frederick, MD) chipped in 10 points, including two key three-pointers to help Monroe pull away. The bench also contributed, with Omar White (Brooklyn, NY) adding a solid 7 points and 5 rebounds in limited minutes.

Monroe outscored Bryant & Stratton 45-22 in the second half, shooting 48.1% from the field and an impressive 85% from the free-throw line. They dominated the boards with 43 rebounds, compared to their opponent's 34, and showed improved ball movement, racking up 14 assists as a team.

Defensively, Monroe forced 16 turnovers and swiped 10 steals, with McCurty and Francisco Mattei each grabbing two. Bryant & Stratton struggled to find a rhythm as Monroe's depth and intensity wore them down.

With the victory, Monroe improves to 3-1 on the season and maintains their top-15 national ranking. They'll look to build on this momentum in their next game as they continue their pursuit of a strong postseason push.

NEXT UP: MCC Classic (Orange County Community College) | 11/16/24 (6 pm) | Monagan Court (MCC Brighton Campus)