#15 Tribunes Hold Off #4 Generals in Classic, 68-65

HERKIMER, NY —  In a nail-biter of a game, Monroe Community College edged out Herkimer College 68-65 Saturday afternoon, showcasing a mix of strong defense and timely scoring.

Monroe started the game on a high note, jumping out to a 41-27 lead at halftime.

Forward Jaheem Tyson was a prominent force for the Tribs, racking up 19 points and grabbing 19 rebounds, making his presence felt both offensively and defensively. His ability to snag crucial offensive rebounds kept the momentum with the Tribunes in the first half.

However, Herkimer wasn't going down without a fight. After a slow start, the Generals came roaring back in the second half, led by Oladele Oladitan, who poured in 21 points. His shooting efforts, including several three-pointers, energized the team and helped narrow the gap to just a few points as the clock wound down.

Despite Herkimer's fourth-quarter surge, Monroe managed to maintain their composure. They hit critical free throws in the final moments to close out their eigth consecutive win.

MCC's Historic Head Coach, Jerry Burns said, "This is a big win, but we need to learn how to close out games better," a visibly relieved Monroe coach said post-game. "We had moments where we could've taken control, but we let them back in it."

With this win, Monroe improves their season record to 14-2 and climbed to #12 in the Week 7 NJCAA DII Men's Basketball Rankings. 

NEXT UP: @ MONROE COLLEGE M/W MIXER VS #19 HOWARD CC (1/18, 5PM)