(Valhalla, NY) - Freshman Daniel Barrera (Elmsford, NY/Alexander Hamilton HS) scored 19 points and sophomore Joe Zayer (West Nyack, NY/Clarkstown South HS) added 17 points, but the Westchester Community College Men's Basketball team dropped a 77-72 battle to visiting Monroe Community College on Sunday afternoon at Viking Gymnasium. With the loss, Westchester is now 7-4 for the 2019-2020 season.

As has been the case for much of the season for the Vikings, it was a tale of two halves. Westchester got off to a hot start, using a 13-4 run midway through the first half to take an 11-point lead, 23-12 with 7:46 to play in the opening stanzaHowever, from there, Monroe (5-2) gradually chipped away at the deficit, using a late 10-3 run to make it a 29-26 Viking lead at halftime. Westchester's defense held Monroe to a 24% shooting percentage during the first half, allowing them to hold the lead for the entirety of the first 20 minutes.

However, things picked up during the final 20 minutes. The teams went back and forth for several minutes to start the second half, but after a Dimaunie Meredith (Dobbs Ferry, NY/Dobbs Ferry HS) lay-up with 13:44 to play made it a one-point Tribune lead, Monroe scored 27 of the next 40 points to extend their lead to 71-56 with 4:56 to play.
 

From there, however, Westchester refused to go down quietly. A  late 16-4 Viking run culminated with two Barrera free throws with 29 seconds left that made it a 75-72 game. Westchester then forced two consecutive Monroe CC turnovers, but a missed three-pointer and then a turnover of their own gave Monroe the ball back with 12 seconds remaining. The Tribunes converted two late free throws to ice the game.

Malik Moore (Tuckahoe, NY/Tuckahoe HS) had a solid overall game with nine points, nine assists, and six rebounds, while Noe Fleurimond (Greenburgh, NY/Woodlands HS) added nine points and three rebounds.

Overall, Westchester shot 39% from the floor, compared to 44% for Monroe CC. Rebounding proved to be a major culprit as Monroe grabbed 50 rebounds, compared to 33 for Westchester, including a 17-4 Tribune edge on the offensive glass.

After the Thanksgiving holiday, Westchester CC returns to action on Tuesday, Dec. 3 when the Vikings host Sullivan Community College for a 7:00 p.m. Mid-Hudson Conference/Region XV game.