WINDSOR, ON - The Windsor Express clinched third place in the National Basketball League of Canada standings and a bye to the semifinals against the Summerside Storm with their 104-95 victory over the Saint John Mill Rats at the WFCU Centre, tonight.
Darren Duncan and Mike Helms shared the team-lead in points with 18.
Kevin Loiselle chipped in 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Chris Commons scored 14 points and Greg Surmacz had a double-double, scoring 12 points and hauling down 12 rebounds.
In a game that saw many lead changes in the second half, it was the play of Stefan Bonneau in the fourth quarter that led to Windsor's nine-point victory. Bonneau came off of the bench and scored seven straight points for the Express to put them ahead in the final minutes and finished with 15 points in only 19 minutes of playing time.
An alley-oop slam dunk started by Duncan and finished by Loiselle put the final touches on the victory in front of an excited crowd at the WFCU.
Mill Rats forward Kenny Jones was dominant during the first three quarters of the game, accumulating 20 points midway through the third but was quieted by the Express defense the rest of the game. Jones finished the night with 24 points. Kevin Francis shook off a rusty shooting display in the first quarter to finish with 17 points.
The win gives the Express a berth in the semifinals against the Summerside Storm, beginning with games one and two on Prince Edward Island, March 24 at 26 at Credit Union Place. As of yet, dates and times for games three and four in Windsor have yet to be announced.
Both the Express and the Storm still have one regular season game remaining on March 16 at home. The Storm play the Halifax Rainmen while the Express take on the Oshawa Power. Both games tip-off at 7pm EST and can be seen live at www.nblcanada.ca
As always, during the regular season children under 13 are free with each paying adult.
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