Tribunes Top Erie 74-62, Headed to Second Straight WNYAC Championship Game

SANBORN, NY - In a tightly contested matchup Monroe Community College overcame a first-half deficit to defeat Erie Community College 74-62 at SUNY Niagara in the Region III Division II Semifinals.

Erie jumped out to a small lead, heading into halftime with a 31-30 advantage thanks to some gritty defense and key contributions from David Stroud, who scored a couple of crucial baskets. 

The second half saw Monroe come out energized and ready to capitalize on their home court advantage. They quickly flipped the script, outscoring Erie 44-31. Omar White led the charge for Monroe with a standout performance, scoring 24 points and grabbing five rebounds while shooting an impressive 75 percent from the field.

Erie's Kydale Staten gave a valiant effort, contributing 11 points and five rebounds, but the squad as a whole struggled to find their shot, finishing the game with only 32.8 percent shooting overall and a dismal 25 percent from three-point range. Due to a tough Tribunes defense they also had trouble with ball security, racking up 17 turnovers, which put them in a tough position against a solid Monroe defense that forced key mistakes.

Monroe's depth was on full display as Denarius McCurty came off the bench to add 15 points and five rebounds. Every time Erie made a push, Monroe had an answer, which ultimately made the difference in the game.

With this win, Monroe improves to 22-4, solidifying their status near the top of the region.

NEXT GAME: The Tribunes will take on rival SUNY Niagara in the Region III Division II Championship game tomorrow 3/2 at SUNY Niagara.