THE University of the Bahamas Mingoes not only needed to beat the JD's Seafood Shockers in the decisive game of their New Providence Basketball Association men's best-of-three series, they needed to make a statement.

They did just that at the AF Adderley Gymnasium on Wednesday night.

The Shockers led the game early in the first quarter at 5-4 with 6:30 to go. The Mingoes took off flying after that.

Led by a balanced attack from Robert Joseph, Ujammaa Johnson and Kemsy Sylvestre, the Mingoes ended the quarter on 16-6 run and never looked back.

Up by as much at 30 points (three-point play from Romero Cornish with 4:09 to go in third), the Mingoes dispatched the Shockers 91-71 to take the series 2-1. The Shockers beat the Mingoes in the first game of the series 64-57 and the Mingoes won game two 91-73.

Johnson was on fire for the Mingoes with 20 points to go along with four other teammates in double figures - Joseph and Sylvestre with 14 each, Rashaad Sturrup with 12 points and 16 rebounds, and Cornish with 11 points.

Sylvestre also pulled down 14 rebounds.

William Rigby scored 21 points for the Shockers in a losing effort to go along with 19 points from Lenny Oscar.

Johnson said their defence was the driving force behind the win.

The Shockers employed a box-and-one defence for most of the night alternating between marking Joseph or Sylvestre.

Joseph said this allowed others to easily score.

The Mingoes now play the Rockets in the divisional final best-of-three series starting 8:30pm Saturday at AF Adderley gym.

"Our defence really stepped up the whole way and we executed," he said.

"We listened to the coach and we just came out with a victory. Our defence really helped our offence.

"We picked it up and we played intense ball and it just led easy buckets on that end."

"They guarded me all game and that opens up the game for everybody else allowing them to score easy lay-up and easy shots and it was just working all game," he said.

"The guys came out off the bench and scored a lot of points today and got into it. We just trusted our teammates and they came through for us."

In the other half of the men's division one semi-finals that will begin tonight at 8:30pm, the Commonwealth Bank Giants face the Breezes High Flyers.

One half of the men's division II series is already set with the Sun Oil Rockets taking on the Leno Eagles Nest on Saturday at 7:30 pm.

While Your Essential Store Giants have already advanced in the other half of the series, they are still waiting on their opponents, who will be decided tonight when the Asphalt Maintenance Pirates take on the Sports Center Elites at 7:30pm.

The winner between the Pirates and Elites will play the YES Giants in game one of their semi-finals at 7:30pm on Monday.