|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
OT |
T |
| Thunder |
18 |
26 |
25 |
24 |
3 |
96 |
| Express |
31 |
23 |
19 |
20 |
10 |
103 |
EAST ORANGE (NJ) – It took an extra session, but the Jersey Express’ 103-96 win over the New York Thunder gave the state of New Jersey their first professional basketball win of the season. Jordan Fowler exploded for seven of the Express’ 10 points, and Dwayne Howell controlled the defensive boards limiting the Thunder to one shot each possession in overtime.
“My teammates were telling me not to be so timid offensively,” a winded Jordan said after the game. “Rebounding was the key, we probably still got outrebounded (for the game), but in overtime we stepped it up.”
Fowler’s assessment was spot on and echoed in harsher terms by Express coach, Quaasim Austin.
“We have to buckle down, we have to rebound, they kicked our a-- on the boards, they kicked our a-- on the boards,” Austin said. “In overtime, the guys did just that, four or five shots went up, we boxed out finally, actually grabbed the rebound, and limited them to one shot.”
Early in the game, forward Jamie Sowers and guard Troy Goodman powered the Express to an 18-0 run and a 20-6 lead before Thunder coach, Michael Logan settled his squad.
“I had to remind them that they are professional basketball players, and in every game there is about four or five runs,” Logan said. “I told them to keep their head up, we could be down 20, 30 points and just chip away, which we did. We got back (in the game), we got up, then suffered some mishaps here some mishaps there.”
Logan gave more than a pep talk to his players a subtle switch in strategy (leaning on the post-up game of Sharif Fordham) kept the Thunder in the game.
“We decided to go with a different look because the three-pointers weren’t working, there is only so many threes you can shoot that don’t go in,” Logan said before adding, “we noticed a weakness in the man guarding Sharif. Sharif, at his size (6’ 3, 205) is stronger than most big men but, he is quicker than the guys guarding him.”
Fordham lived in the lane backing down smaller defenders and using guile to manufacture fouls, finished with a game high 25 points. Guard Brandon Weldon completed the comeback, giving the Thunder their first lead since the early in moments of the game with a free throw three minutes into the fourth quarter.
The teams seesawed with the lead and the Thunder pulling ahead by six, until the Express scored the final six points in regulation. The Thunder’s last chance at victory ended on the foul line with nine seconds on the, clock when Leslie Sherman missed on two free throws.
“In the overtime we didn’t do anything, I don’t know what happened there, we just went flat, but it (the game) showed the potential we have on this team,” Coach Logan said.
Coach Austin’s decision to keep Antionne Morgano in the lineup for the extra session paid off. Morgano’s hustle and offensive board work led to the late comeback.
“I’m a rebounder, I love crashing the boards so no matter the situation, if we are up by 30, I’m still crashing the boards, that’s the intensity we have to play with game in and game out,” Morgano said.
After being outscored the final three quarters of regulation, the Express focused and shook it off during the extra session.
“I told them we are not leaving this gym without a win tonight,” Coach Austin said. “The defensive end is where we needed to focus. The offense will take care of itself.”
“It was 0-0 a new ball game so we had to execute even harder, I believe with the coaches advice and other players helping and chipping in, after our execution broke down a little bit in the fourth quarter, but we picked it back up an carried it into the overtime,” Morgano added. “Our game plan is to limit them to one shot, get on these boards, and get on a man to box out so we don’t give up any second-chance shots.”
With one game in the books, team president, Marsha Blount beamed with excitement after the game.
“I’m extremely proud of our players and coaches, they worked hard and it paid off and we were able to provide our fans with an awesome game on opening night that ended in overtime,” Blount said. “With this showing, I hope the word spreads and the community gets involved, December 5th the New York Red Riders come to town and we get to do it all again.”
Before that game, the Express travel to Severn, Maryland to face the Maryland Marvels.
| Thunder |
2PA |
2PM |
3PA |
3PM |
FTA |
FTM |
R |
A |
S |
B |
P |
|
Weldon |
5 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
|
Cuffe |
5 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
4 |
7 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
12 |
|
Dantzler |
3 |
1 |
11 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
9 |
|
Wallace |
5 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
|
Grant |
9 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
11 |
|
Sherman |
5 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
9 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
|
Alvarez |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
Thomas |
3 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
|
Fordham |
11 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
13 |
9 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
25 |
|
Williams |
6 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Totals |
56 |
29 |
16 |
5 |
33 |
23 |
48 |
5 |
9 |
4 |
96 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Express |
2PA |
2PM |
3PA |
3PM |
FTA |
FTM |
R |
A |
S |
B |
P |
|
Thorpe |
4 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
|
Sowers |
6 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
11 |
|
Howell |
9 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
10 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
14 |
|
Goodman |
12 |
8 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
19 |
|
Battle |
18 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
7 |
5 |
8 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
17 |
|
Allen |
4 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
9 |
|
Fowler |
10 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
10 |
|
Morgano |
9 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
14 |
|
Sanders |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Davis |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Miles |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
Totals |
78 |
39 |
13 |
2 |
25 |
19 |
38 |
15 |
10 |
6 |
103 |
|
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|
| stats are unofficial |
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| Attendance - 258 |
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