EAST ORANGE – In what could be called a bounce-back performance, Sean Dantzler bombed away for 33 points for the New York City Thunder in handing the Jersey Express their first loss of the season 108-88 Sunday afternoon.

In the previous matchup between the clubs, Dantzler struggled from the floor, shooting 4-14 and finishing with nine points.

“We worked on that in practice,” Thunder Coach Michael Logan said. “I told Sean he has a quick release and he needs to use it. When I say he has a quick release, I mean he has a quick release.”

That quick release accounted for the first basket of the game, as the Thunder (4-1) opened the contest with a, 11-6 run as center Kyle Cuffe and forward Christopher Grant combined for the other eight points.

“New York City came on a mission, they were sitting below us at second place in our division,” Express Coach Quaasim Austin said. “They came in headhunting. They came ready to play and we didn’t.”

Cuffe provided the Thunder with an inside presence that never materialized in the first meeting, something Coach Logan attributed to film study.

“We looked at the old tapes, a lot of film,” Logan said, “We played well on the boards our big men played big, everyone did what they were supposed to do. We noticed when we draw, they come out and leave the big man open and we kept passing it down low and then when they collapsed down low, Sean is going to take that shot every time.”

The Express used a 12-5 run midway into the second quarter pulling to within a basket, but never got over the hump.

“We took one on the chin,” Austin said. “The guys didn’t come to play today.”

For the second game in a row, forward Devin Davis provided a spark off the bench. Davis contributed 12 points and eight boards for the Express and his recent play is catching the eye of the coaching staff.

“Devin played well, I’m actually considering making some changes in the lineup anyhow, and he may be one of those moves, Austin said. “We have to find a way to have that kind of spark in the starting lineup and not always coming off the bench.”

The effects of a game the night before showed early and often for the Express, as a team they misfired on 25 free throws shooting 16-41 from the stripe (39%).

Coach Austin did notice the lack of pep in his team and offered a simple explanation.

“I think it was an effect, it was less than 24 hours between games so in terms of the guys going home, getting to sleep, getting the proper rest, we encouraged that how many of them did that I don’t know. This is not high school or college it is hard to control what the team does on their time.

The Express have a couple of weeks off before they take the floor against the Maryland Marvels December 27 in Maryland. The Express (4-1) come back to the comfortable confines of the East Orange Campus January 9 against the New York Red Riders.

Thunder	2PA	2PM	3PA	3PM	FTA	FTM	R	A	S	B	P
Grant	14	7	2	0	3	2	8	3	4	0	16
Fordham	11	4	0	0	6	3	9	3	2	0	11
Dantzler	6	4	11	6	10	7	5	2	4	0	33
Williams	5	3	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	1	6
Cuffe	16	10	0	0	2	2	13	1	0	1	22
Thomas	5	0	0	0	2	1	3	0	0	4	1
Mar. McCullough	3	1	5	2	6	5	1	0	1	0	13
Wallace	0	0	0	0	2	1	5	0	0	0	1
Mal. McCullough	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	3
Kirkland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Alvarez	4	1	0	0	0	0	3	1	0	0	2
Totals	64	30	19	9	31	21	49	10	13	6	108
Express	2PA	2PM	3PA	3PM	FTA	FTM	R	A	S	B	P
Goodman	22	6	11	0	5	2	4	6	1	0	14
Howell	12	2	0	0	7	5	10	5	2	0	9
Battle	18	8	1	0	12	2	7	0	0	6	18
Thorpe	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
Sowers	2	2	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	4
Fowler	4	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	4
Morgano	13	6	0	0	7	2	2	0	3	0	14
Sanders	2	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	1	2
Davis	11	5	0	0	6	2	8	3	0	1	12
Allen	3	1	2	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	4
Ailey	4	3	0	0	2	1	1	2	1	0	7
Totals	91	36	17	0	41	16	36	16	8	10	88
stats are unofficial