By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Dearborn, Mich.---Andy Bachman (North Side/Fort Wayne, Ind.) poured in a career-high 23 points to lead the No. 8 Express men's basketball team past Henry Ford Community College 82-69 on the road tonight.
Aside from Bachman's big game, a 21-2 run to start the game keyed the Express victory. During that stretch, the only points from Henry Ford came from the free throw line. They did not score their first field goal until a Marcellus Wilford lay-up with 9:39 remaining in the half.
A few highlights during that run were a fast break dunk from Kenny Jones (Clay/South Bend, Ind.) with 15:42 remaining that put the Express up 12-0, and a left-handed, fast break dunk from Bikramjit Gill (Our Lord of the Ascension/Toronto, Ontario, Canada) that put the Express up 16-2 with 11:50 left in the half.
During the run, interestingly, Bachman did not score a point. The Express got six points from John Murry (North Central/Indianapolis, Ind.), four from Jones and four from Shaakir Lindsey (Teaneck/Teaneck, N.J.) during that stretch.
Following the hot start for the Express, Henry Ford made a 9-2 run to pull within 12 with 5:36 left in the half. In those last five minutes, however, Bachman made his presence known with a mid-range jumper and two 3-point field goals to give the Express a 40-24 lead at halftime.
In the second half, Henry Ford opened strong. They made a spurt capped by a Joniero Bryant dunk that pulled them within 42-36 with 16:57 left in the game.
Bachman, however, made back-to-back 3-pointers from each corner of the 3-point arc to give his team a 48-38 lead.
With 4:39 remaining, Henry Ford was within seven at 69-62, but Edmond Early Jr. (Thurgood Marshall/Dayton, Ohio) hit a 3-pointer from straight away and a mid-range jumper, followed by a 3-point play from Bachman, who grabbed an offensive rebound and made the putback while getting fouled.
The Express iced the game at the free throw line down the stretch. Bachman made 2-for-2 following his 3-point play and Lindsey was 3-for-4.
Bachman finished 8-for-15 from the field, (4-for-9 from 3-point range) and 3-for-3 from the foul line, while adding eight rebounds, two steals and one assist. Early Jr. added 13 points, one rebound, one assist and one steal.
Murry had 12 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals. He made his first career start today.
Williams had a team-high 23 points for Henry Ford, while Wilford added 18 and Richard Reno Boyd had 12. An interesting stat for the Hawks in the game was 10 team rebounds off loose balls.
The Express (5-2) will travel to Macomb Community College on Saturday for a 3 p.m. matchup, while Henry Ford falls to 2-2 this year with the loss.
Notes
Bachman has now scored in double-figures in six straight games this year. His previous season-high was 19 in a 92-85 loss to NJCAA D-I Monroe College on Nov. 9. His previous career-high was 20 points on Jan. 4 of last year against Washtenaw Community College.
Early Jr. tied his season-high in points tonight, while picking up his third game in double-figure scoring of the season.
Murry, meanwhile, scored in double figures for the sixth time in seven games this year.