By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, OH---The Express men's basketball team set a new school record and got strong play from Jeff Burroughs (Belleville/Ypsilanti, Mich.) and Jay Marquette (Central Catholic/Rossford, Ohio) to upset No. 4 Columbus State 65-60 in the SHAC today.

While they didn't lead the team in scoring, Burroughs and Marquette had solid all-around games. Burroughs finished with 10 points, five rebounds, six assists and four steals, while Marquette had 11 points, nine rebounds, five assists, three blocks and three steals.

Justin Edmonds (Albion/Albion, Mich.) struggled from the field for the second straight game, but led the team in scoring with 14 points, while adding six rebounds and one assist. James Kelly (Pioneer/Ann Arbor, Mich.) had a couple monstrous dunks in the second half, including a one hander on an assist from Jerron Jamerson (Washington/South Bend, Ind.). Kelly finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, one assist and one steal.

Team leaders for the Express were: Edmonds in points with 17, Marquette in rebounds with 9, Burroughs in assists with 6, Kelly and Marquette in blocks with 3, and Burroughs in steals with 4.

Meanwhile, Darnell Tubbs and Glenn Cosey led the Cougars, despite both struggling from the field. Tubbs had 17 points, seven rebounds, six steals and three assists, while Cosey had 16 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and one assist. The two of them combined to shoot only 13-for-42 overall from the field and 2-for-11 from three point range. Nobody else hit double figures for Columbus State, although Mohamed Conde had nine points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

Statistically, the game was odd. Columbus State outrebounded the Express 49 to 44, had more points in the paint at 28 to 16, and had more second chance points at 15 to 7 - and they lost. Offsetting those numbers was an advantage at the three point line for the Express (7-for-25 to 2-for-12) and an outstanding free throw performance (20-for-22). The 90.9 free throw percentage breaks an almost 21 year old school record for best free throw percentage as a team in a game. The old mark was set on Feb. 13, 1991 against Edison State at 18-for-20 (90 percent).

The Express did not score a field goal over the final 5:47 of the game, but hit 9 of 10 from the line down the stretch to seal it. Owens led 36-31 at halftime despite holding a 17 point lead with 7:26 remaining in the first half and each team scored 29 points in the second half. There were three ties and one lead change in the game. The only time Columbus State led was 2-0 at the 19:46 mark of the first half.

Columbus State shot 23-for-69 (33.3 percent) overall from the field and 12-for-23 (52.2 percent) from the foul line, while the Express shot 19-for-65 (29.2 percent) overall.

Owens is now 13-5 overall and 1-0 in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference, while No. 4 Columbus State falls to 14-2 overall and 0-1 in the OCCAC.

The Express will take on Ohio State University's club team next Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the SHAC. It is part of a doubleheader as they women take on OSU club at 5:30 p.m.