By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, Ohio---Shaakir Lindsey (Teaneck/Teaneck, N.J.) and John Murry (North Central/Indianapolis, Ind.) combined for 52 points to keep the No. 8 Owens Community College men's basketball team undefeated with a 100-92 win over No. 10 Wayne County Community College tonight in the SHAC.

Lindsey, who came off the bench tonight, finished 9-for-11 from the field (3-for-3 from 3-point range) and 7-for-7 from the foul line for 28 points, along with a team-high four assists and one steal.

In the first half, a Murry jumper gave the Express a 21-13 lead, but back-to-back lay-ups by Venson Bryant gave Wayne County a 29-28 lead with 8:36 left in the half. The Express answered right away, though, with a 13-0 run to take a 41-29 lead with 5:36 remaining.

After Wayne County ended the run with a Chase Gonzalez jumper, Lindsey hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Express a 47-33 lead with 3:32 left. The Express kept going and closed the half on a Dilyn Good (Springfield/Holland, Ohio) 3-pointer to take a 54-38 lead into the locker room.

At the half, Murry had a team-high 14 points on 5-for-7 shooting, along with a 4-for-4 performance from the foul line. Lindsey had 13 points on 5-for-5 shooting (3-for-3 from 3-point range).

In the second half, the Express maintained at least an eight point lead for almost 14 minutes, but Wayne County made a run to nearly win the game. A lay-up by Lindsey gave the Express an 85-72 lead with 6:19 left, but that's when Wayne County went on an 11-0 run to trim their deficit to two with 4:24 left.

Lindsey and Murry, though, took over down the stretch to seal the game.

Up just 85-83 with 4:24 left, Lindsey hit two free throws, followed by a lay-up to give the Express a six point lead with 3:47 left. Wayne County then responded with five straight points to pull within one at the 2:47 mark. 

On the ensuing possession, Murry was fouled and made both free throws to stretch the Express lead up to three. After a Wayne County missed shot, Murry was fouled again. This time, he made 1-for-2 for a four point lead. The Express got the offensive rebound, though, on the miss and Murry converted it into a lay-up and a six point lead with 1:55 left.

Another miss for Wayne County was followed by a driving lay-up from Lindsey to give the Express a 96-88 lead with 1:11 left. Wayne County would answer with a lay-up of their own, but Edmond Early Jr. (Thurgood Marshall/Dayton, Ohio) responded with two free throws for the Express.

Wayne County scored their final points with a pair of free throws by Chase Gonzalez with 41 seconds left. Murry and Darren Groves (Thurgood Marshall/Dayton, Ohio) made 2-for-4 from the foul line in the final 40 seconds, while Wayne County missed two shots as the Express closed out the eight point win.

A 22-for-25 performance from the foul line in the second half alone buoyed the fourth win of the season for the Express. They also out-rebounded Wayne County 22-15 in the second stanza, although Wayne County held an 8-7 advantage in offensive rebounds in the half.

Fourteen second half Express turnovers, along with nine Wayne County steals aided the second half comeback, as well, for Wayne County.

Overall, Murry scored 24 to assist Lindsey's 28. Murry finished 7-for-14 from the field and 10-for-12 from the foul line. In fact, the Express finished 27-for-33 from the foul line as a team. Murry and Lindsey combined to shoot 17-for-19 from the charity stripe.

Lindsey is now 19-for-20 from the foul line and 7-for-7 from 3-point range this year. At 95 percent this year, he has raised his career free throw percentage of 83.9. Moreover, he has 50 points over his last two games on 14-for-20 shooting from the field (6-for-6 from 3-point range) and 16-for-16 shooting from the foul line. He is averaging 16.5 points per game over the team's first four contests.

Aside from Murry and Lindsey, Groves produced his first collegiate double-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals. He came into the game leading the team in assists.

Austin Somerfield (Greenville/Greenville, Mich.) produced eight rebounds off the bench, including six on the offensive end, while Early Jr. added eight points and three steals out of the starting lineup.

For Wayne County, six players notched double-figures in points, led by 21 points from Gonzalez. Joe Moorman and De'Jon Curd had 15 and 13, respectively, off the bench, while Bryant (11), Ashton Curd (11) and Dayman Hardges (10) also scored at least 10. Hardges had a team-high eight rebounds.

The Express have now scored at lead 93 points in each of the team's first four games, and they are now averaging 101 points per game this year, which is seventh best in the nation.

The Express are now 4-0 this year and will be back in action Friday night at home against Muskegon Community College at 7 p.m.