(New Rochelle, NY) - Freshman Joe Zayer (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South HS) scored 29 points, including a 7 for 12 effort from three-point range, and sophomore Monte Lambert (Brooklyn, NY/James Madison HS) added 16 points as the Westchester Community College Men's Basketball team notched its second consecutive win, 85-77 on Thursday night at Monroe College. With the win, the Vikings improve to 13-7 for the 2018-19 season.

Westchester got off to a slow start, struggling against a tough full-court press that Monroe employed from the start, that led to 14 first-half turnovers, and an early 11-4 Express lead. However, Westchester chipped away at the Monroe lead, tying the game 25-25 with eight minutes remaining in the first half. The Express led 44-40 at halftime.

Westchester opened the second half on a 9-2 run, and for the second game in a row, enjoyed a tremendous second half, outscoring Monroe 45-33 during the final 20 minutes.

Aside from Zayer's heroics, sophomore Miles Haughton (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck HS) scored nine of his 11 points during the second half of play. Also for Westchester, freshman Fabian Johnson (New York, NY/Our Savior Lutheran) added 10 points.

Westchester shot 53% from the floor, compared to 44% for Monroe, and the Vikings owned s 40-35 edge on the boards.

Westchester Community College now opens their most crucial stretch of the 2018-19 season, playing four consecutive Region XV games over a nine-game span that will determine seeding for the upcoming Region XV Tournament. The stretch begins on Tuesday, Feb. 5 when the Vikings travel to Ulster Community College for a 7:00 p.m. game. Westchester downed the Senators at home, 82-59 on Dec. 4.