By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, OH---Franklin Lindsey led a 25-0 first half run and finished with 14 points and nine rebounds off the bench to help the Express men's basketball team defeat Cuyahoga Community College 64-61 in a Region XII District 10 semifinal matchup in the SHAC tonight.

With the Express down 17-8 with 9:16 remaining, Lindsey helped the Express go on a 25-0 run that put the Express up 33-17 with 1:15 remaining. He scored all 10 of his first half points during that run and also added five rebounds in the half.

The Express took a 33-21 lead into the half. They held a 45-34 lead with 14:52 remaining when Cuyahoga started to chip away at the lead as it was cut it to five with 11:17 remaining, four with 9:14 left, and five with 3:30 left.

Then, with the lead trimmed to 58-55 with 25 seconds left, Justin Edmonds and Kelvin Clark combined to hit six out of six at the line to seal it despite two three pointers from JR Rayford during that period, including one at the buzzer.

Edmonds led the Express in scoring with 17 points, while adding seven rebounds, five assists and one block. James Kelly and Jay Marquette each added 10 points and four rebounds, while Marquette also had three assists, three steals and one block. He hit crucial shots throughout the game, as well.

Darrell Robinson led Cuyahoga with 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while Rayford and Jamil Brooks each had 12 points. Joshual Eckford added 10 rebounds.

The Express shot 23-for-59 overall, 7-for-27 from three point range and 11-for-15 from the foul line. Meanwhile, Cuyahoga shot 23-for-55 overall, 5-for-14 from three point range and 10-for-14 from the free throw line.

Cuyahoga outrebounded the Express 37-31, but the Express had more assists (12-9), fewer turnovers (13-20), more blocks (4-3), more points off turnovers (22-6), more second chance points (12-4) and more bench points (24-20). Cuyahoga had more points in the paint (32-22).

The game featured only one tie and one lead change. Cuyahoga held their largest lead of 11 at the 11:56 mark of the first half, the Express tied it with 7:17 remaining on a Lindsey jumper, and they led the rest of the way. Owens held their largest lead at the aformentioned 1:15 mark of the first half at 33-17.

Owens had not played since Feb. 22 when they defeated Edison CC on the road.

The Express are now 24-7, and they will take on Lakeland Community College tomorrow at 1 p.m. in the championship. Lakeland defeated Columbus State in the other semifinal. The winner advances to the NJCAA D-II National Championships in Danville, IL.

Tomorrow's game will mark the first time since the 2006-07 season that the Express has appeared in a Region XII championship game.