By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, Ohio---Antoine Benford (East English Village/Detroit, Mich.) scored 18 points to lead the No. 8 Express men's basketball team past Delta College 97-74 in the Owens Tip Off Classic semifinals tonight.

Benford also added nine rebounds and two steals as he led six Express players in double figure scoring. John Murry (North Central/Indianapolis, Ind.) finished second on the team in scoring with 14 points, while Andy Bachman (North Side/Fort Wayne, Ind.) added 11 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block.

Three other players scored 10 points each - Bikramjit Gill (Our Ascension of the Lord/Toronto, Ontario, Canada), Tony Boykins (Loy Norrix/Kalamazoo, Mich.) and Martez Asberry (Douglas Academy/Detroit, Mich.).

Six of Benford's rebounds came on the offensive glass, while Asberry, Edmond Early Jr. (Thurgood Marshall/Dayton, Ohio) and Murry each had a team-high four assists. Gill had a team-high seven blocks, which is a season-high for him.

The Express shot 39-for-78 (50 percent) from the field and 9-for-17 (52.9 percent) from 3-point range. For good measure, they finished 10-for-11 (90.9 percent) from the foul line. They out-rebounded the Pioneers 50-39, had more assists (21-10), more steals (10-7) and more blocks (13-2).

Tre Johnson (18), Justinn Bernard (18) and Caleb McIntosh (11) all scored in double figures for the Pioneers, who fell to 1-1 this year. They will take on Kellogg Community College in tomorrow's consolation game at 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Express (3-0) will advance to take on Monroe College (NY) at 8 p.m. in the Tip Off Classic Championship in the SHAC tomorrow.