The London Lightning winning streak ended at five games on Thursday night in Windsor in a 110-100 loss to the Express.
When asked about Windsor’s strengths, Lightning head coach Keith Vassell pointed to their ability to hit timely shots.
Vassell said, “They have done it to us three times already.”
Windsor bumped that number to four in the five games the teams have played against each other this season.
The Express made big shots at the end of the first half to cut back a London lead that got to as many as 11 points and then did the same thing again late in the second half when the Lightning got close.
The teams had hit halftime tied 62-62.
Lightning shooters hit 50 per cent from the field, but struggled from three-point range, going just 6-of-26.
London’s Royce White and Windsor’s Chad Frazier led all shooters with 28 points apiece. White also had 12 rebounds and two assists.
Garrett Williamson and Mo Bolden of the Lightning each had 15 points and Kirk Williams Jr. chipped in 10 points from the bench.
Julian Boyd missed the game for London with soreness in his right shoulder. Lightning head coach Vassell says he believes Boyd will be well enough to play in London’s next game.
Bryan Akinkugbe was activated against the Express.
The loss was London’s first since dropping a 123-120 decision to the Express at Budweiser Gardens. That was part of back-to-back losses to Windsor and three defeats in a row.
Since then, London had rebounded to win games in all sorts of ways, showing their overall strengths, but Windsor remains a bit of an enigma for them in 2017-18.
The Lightning remain in first place in the Central Division and their gap over the St. John’s Edge remained the same on Wednesday after the K-W Titans picked up their second victory in three games, beating St. John’s 114-111.
London leads by a game and a half.
The Lightning are two games into eight-straight on the road.
They will not return home until March 15.
Their next game takes place on Sunday at 2 p.m. in St. Catharines against the Niagara River Lions.