Tribs top Niagara in Pavia opener

ROCHESTER - The MCC men's basketball team defeated Niagara College 85-62 in the opening round of the 20th annual Pete Pavia Memorial Scholarship basketball tournament Saturday.

The Tribunes (7-4) led by 20 at the break and cruised to the win. Monroe will play Cincinnati State at 4 p.m. sunday for the title. Cincinnati defeated Oakland CC 123-119 in overtime in the other game.

MCC forced the Knights into 7-for-27 shooting from the floor in the first half. The Tribunes also carried a 27-14 edge on the glass into the break to help gain that early 20-point advantage.

Tashawn Desir finished with a team-high 16 points to lead Monroe. The sophomore also tallied six steals and four assists. Damon Miraud added 11 points as the MCC bench contributed 50 on the night.

Dykweil Bryan scored all 10 of his points in the big first half and also dished out four assists. Isaiah Davis had nine points, Anthony Hemingway and Artice Jackson had eight apiece, and Andre McFarlane chipped in with six points and 10 rebounds. 

MCC outrebounded Niagara 54-29 on the game.