Mustangs over the Blues.

[Gusher]

12/21/08: Mustangs win their 4th straight

Sunday, Dec 21, 2008 @10:29pm CST

The Southeast Texas Mustangs (5-1-#4 in the Nation) won their 4th straight game on Sunday afternoon with a hard fought 102-90 victory over the Mississippi Blues (1-3).



The Blues who traveled from Nashville, TN, where they lost another physical and hard fought game 120-104 to the #1 Ranked Nashville Broncs on Friday night started slow in the first period of play and were held to 9 total points the Mustangs defense. Southeast Texas had a cold hand in the first quarter and finished with 16 total points and led by 7 points at the end of one period of play holding a 16-9 lead.



In the second period things heated up for both sides. The Mustangs were led by Anthony “Lump” Lumpkin and Rookie Currye Todd, who both scored 8 points in the quarter. Sandrell Spann’s physical inside play and baskets kept the Blues close though and Southeast Texas went into halftime leading 44-34.



The Blues found their range in the third quarter and picked up their defense. Daniel Price scored 11 points in the quarter to cut the Mustangs lead to 6 heading into the fourth quarter 76-70.



In the fourth quarter Mustangs point guard Tim Pledger, veteran power forward DeRon Rutledge, center, Jamaal Davis, and Lumpkin came up big for the Mustangs scoring crucial baskets both inside and outside each time Mississippi would make a run at them. The Mustangs pulled away in the end and controlled tempo to clinch another important divisional win!



“We have beaten a very good young team home and away in the last two games and we anticipate another tough game tomorrow night. Mississippi is a good team and they are very dangerous! You have to be ready to play against them every time you meet them. I have great respect for them and for the way they play the game.” said Mustangs General Manager/Head Coach Steve Tucker.



The SETX Mustangs had six player’s score double figures with Rutledge leading the way with 19 points. Pledger added 18 points and 7 assist. Todd continued his stellar play by pitching in 17 points. Lumpkin chipped in 14 points, while Davis and Donald Harris finished with 10 points each respectively. Price led the way for the Blues with 23 points, while Spann and Ronald Ellis added 10 points each.



The Mustangs and Blues will square off again on Monday evening at the Ford Arena in Beaumont, TX with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 PM.



For further information on tickets or on the SETX MUSTANGS call #409/951-5500 or go online to www.setxmustangs.com or www.abalive.com. You can purchase your tickets directly at the Ford Park Arena Box Office by calling #409/951-5440. GET YOUR MUSTANG SEASON TICKETS NOW, FOR SEASON TICKETS ARE STILL ON SALE!!!

[TEN]

I like how they claim to be #4 in the nation....Like that means a thing!

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

at least they are off their exclamation pointing dependency...

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3755571


Mustangs Win Again to Earn Fifth Straight
December 23, 2008 - American Basketball Association (ABA) Southeast Texas Mustangs

The Southeast Texas Mustangs (6-1-#4 in the Nation) won their 5th straight game on Monday night by once again out battling the Mississippi Blues (1-4) and claiming a 99-92 victory.

It was the 3rd straight time that the Mustangs and Blues have battled in the last week. Southeast Texas won all three games, but this game was by far the most competitive with the teams exchanging several leads in the final ten minutes of the game. DeRon Rutledge's rebound and put back put the Mustangs clear for good as they again pulled away down the stretch to earn another victory over the Blues.


The Mustangs and Blues started out quickly in the first period with both teams having a hot hand. Jarrell Jones, Rod Smith, and Sandrell Spann were effective both inside and outside for the Blues. Tim Pledger, Currye Todd, and veteran big man Johnny Tyson led the Mustangs on a 10-1 run to end the first quarter and Southeast Texas led after one period 27-16.


In the second period, once again the Blues battled from behind and played well. They kept constant pressure on the Mustangs and won the period by six points to go in down by 5 at the half 47-42.


The Mustangs came out ready to play to open up the 3rd quarter with spirited play from DeRon Rutledge. Rutledge scored 12 points in the 3rd, but again the Blues would not go away. Southeast Texas took a 3 point lead into the 4th quarter leading 69-66.


Heading into the 4th quarter the Blues kept the pressure on the Mustangs and when Ernest Hassell hit a three pointer with 9:52 to play the Blues claimed their first lead of the game 73-71. The lead changed hands several times after that. But the Mustangs again answered the call as Pledger and Anthony Lumpkin led a Mustangs surge to put them back up by 4 points with just less than four minutes to play in the game. The inside tandem of Rutledge and Jamaal Davis took over the game as the two frontline players hit big inside shots to give the Mustangs control of the game heading down the stretch. The Mustangs hit key free-throws by Rutledge, Pledger, Todd, and Davis to pull away and claim another victory over the Blues.


Southeast Texas again placed six players in double figures with Rutledge leading the way with 21 points (16 in the second half). Todd again played brilliantly with 16 points. Davis and Harris put in 12 apiece for the Mustangs, while Lumpkin and Pledger chipped in 11 and 10 points respectively. The Mississippi Blues were led by Jone's 17 points. Smith and Hassell scored 16 and 14 points.


The Mustangs will now take off for three days for the Christmas Break, but will return to practice on December 26th as they prepare to take on Texas City on the road on December 28th and on January 3rd. The Mustangs will return to Ford Arena on January 4th as they host the Houston Takers. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 PM.


The Mustangs are currently ranked 4th in the nation in the ABA Power Rankings, but with the #1 team in the Power Rankings, the Nashville Broncs losing this week to the Kentucky Bisons and with the Mustangs being one of the hottest teams with five consecutive wins, the Southeast Texas Mustangs are sure to move up the ABA's Power Ranking Poll.

from the local paper (not a good sign when the attendance is part of the headline, BTW):

http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/sports/local/mustangs_win_again_in_front_of_a_small_crowd_12-22-2008.html

Mustangs win again in front of a small crowd
By RYAN S. CLARK
December, 22, 2008

They're riding a five-game winning streak, they keep games close and all but once, they've lost one game this season.

Monday saw the Mustangs pick up another victory as they defeated the Mississippi Blues 99-92 in front of a couple hundred fans at Ford Arena. The Mustangs improved to 6-1 on the season, including a five-game winning streak. The last three of those came against the 1-3 Blues.

The Mustangs squandered a 12-point lead before it entered the fourth quarter with a 70-69 deficit.

The Mustangs managed to take a four-point lead, but turnovers allowed Mississippi to tie the game at multiple points.

The Mustangs went on a 10-2 run over the last 3:24 that was capped by four free throws from Tim Pledger in the final minute.

"It's all about wining and I've been doing this for a long time," Pledger said. "I think what happens is you have to know how to win and we're learning how to win on the fly. Right now, we are learning how to win in clutch situations."

Pledger talked about the crowd size and said he could understand why a lot of people are not attending games. He said given the area's history with the Drillers, a minor-league football team that cut short its season due to financial constraints, and the Wildcatters, a hockey team that left town after last season, some fans might be weary.

Mustangs guard Currye Todd knows a little something about Beaumont fans because he played college ball at Lamar University. During the team's run, Todd went from a bench player to a solid starter who has gained the trust of his teammates and coaches.

Forward Deron Rutledge said Sunday he thought Todd was the best shooting guard in the ABA.

Todd said hearing Rutledge's comments meant a lot to him. He also said the faith from Tucker has also meant quite a bit as well.

Talking about the crowd size reminded Todd of his first season at Lamar just a few years ago.

"Just keep winning. I've been around this town for the last two or three years and that is what you have to do," Todd said. "When I got to Lamar it was not all gravy like it is now. Get a couple wins and the crowd will come out. They will support us."

Coach Steve Tucker said he was not worried about the crowd either. He recalled a coaching stint he had in Hawaii years ago where only 26 fans showed up to the game.

Tucker said he had the public address announcer call out the fans' name.

"Over time we started winning and my last game there, we had 6,000 people waiting to get into that gym because we were playing for the conference championship," he said. "If you build it, they will come. Just like in 'Field of Dreams.' Right now, we are building it."

Any ideas what team/league Tucker is talking about? 26 fans could easily be an ABA game, but no ABA team outside of - I believe - the Razorsharks and RimRockers has ever approached 6000 fans at one game (I believe Vermont's gym was smaller than that, but I could be wrong).

[CHris902]

I think Vermont's gyms have a max capacity of 1200 or thereabouts. Halifax averaged 1800 fans last year with a season high of 4300 to see the home opener, both of which I believe were tops in the league last year (but really: who knows?).
If they just keep playing the same team over and over and over again they can expect to keep seeing tiny crowds.

[nksports]

The Beaumont paper is going to keep track of attendance because this team is coming on the heels of a failed hockey team and failed indoor football team.