EAST ORANGE – Sharif Fordham led a balanced New York City Thunder attack with 20 points in a hard fought road victory over the New Jersey Express. The 92-89 Thunder victory evened the season series between the two division rivals.

Five Thunder players reached double-digits as New York jumped out early 6-0 lead by pressing to start the game. Fordham scored 13 of his 20 points during the first quarter.

“Most of the time before a team can get in their rhythm, if you press them they are cold,” Thunder Head Coach, Michael Logan said after the game. “You can get those first two, three, or even four turnovers real quick, that’s what we did and we got up on them.”

Express Head Coach Sandy Smith saw thins a little differently.

“What happened is everyone was trying to do someone else’s job, guys that were out there to go up the court, need to go up the court, they can’t come back to help,” Smith said.

The Express stormed back in the second quarter behind the hot shooting of Reggie Winkfield. Winkfield connected on 71 percent (5-7) of his three point attempts in the quarter, finishing the half with 19 points as the Express carried a two-point lead into the break.

“We figured, they beat us by the three (in previous meetings), lets see them do it again,” Logan said. “It’s rare that a team in back to back games, shoots that well.”

The strategy almost backfired as Antionne Morgano continued the Express roll in the third quarter, netting 10 of his game-high 22