Titans fall behind 2-0 to Express in playoff

LAKESHORE, ONT. — The Kitchener-Waterloo Titans shook off a 23-point deficit through regulation only to suffer a 132-128 overtime loss to the Windsor Express in playoff basketball action.

Sunday’s National Basketball League of Canada result sees the Express take a 2-0 series stranglehold in this best-of-five divisional semifinal.

The Titans need a victory in Game 3 on Wednesday to extend their inaugural season. It’s a 7 p.m. tipoff at the Kitchener Aud.

If necessary, Game 4 is Friday night also the Aud.

Sunday, K-W was stung by a couple late turnovers as Windsor’s Darren Duncan registered a game-high 29 points.

“In OT, it doesn’t take much — one or two turnovers were maybe the difference,” said coach Serge Langis whose, Titans committed 24 turnovers.

Windsor’s Juan Pattillo scored 18 points and added 13 rebounds.

The Express were sent to the charity stripe 47 times on the day, to K-W’s 23.

For the visitors, who shot a remarkable 65 per cent from the field in the second half, point guard Isiah Umipig scored a team-leading 28 points and added a dozen assists.

K-W’s Cavell Johnson added 24 points, while Flen Whitfield and Jason Calliste scored 19 and 18 points each, respectively.

Langis said his team looks forward to returning home after two tough road losses.

“Any time you play in familiar territory, it helps. We want to hear our fans support us. We’ll be ready.”

Meanwhile, the London Lightning, now up 2-0 in their divisional semifinal, have the chance to wrap things up with a victory over the home-court Orangeville A’s on Tuesday night at the Athlete Institute.