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G League Grand Rapids Drive

87ers Knock off Drive with Balanced Scoring Attack

December 4, 2016 - NBA G League (G League)
Grand Rapids Drive News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The Delaware 87ers (3-4) got revenge on the Grand Rapids Drive (4-5) for a loss earlier in the season on Sunday night, beating the Drive on the road 118-100.

The Sevens got contributions from all over their roster, grabbing a much-needed win after losing four of their previous five games. Seven players scored in double figures for them compared to just three for the Drive.

Standing out among the team effort were James Webb III and Cat Barber with 19 points each, Shawn Long with 20 points and 15 rebounds, and Carlos Lopez-Sosa with 14 points off the bench.

Kevin Murphy and Jordan Crawford were a two-man show for the host Drive, combining for 56 points. Murphy also had 11 rebounds. Ray McCallum shook off a slow start and finished with 23 points, five rebounds and seven assists.

An early four-point play by Murphy gave the Drive a 15-9 run to open the game, but a bench-heavy unit of Sevens erased that with a 9-1 run immediately following that. Murphy, currently third in the D-League in points per game, had 11 points in the first quarter, but the Drive only managed 20 and Delaware led 26-20 after the first.

The Sevens stretched their lead to double digits in the second quarter, had six players score at least eight first-half points. But the Drive were able to narrow it to a 60-53 halftime advantage. Murphy had 20 points at halftime and Crawford already had 14 as well.

It wasn't enough to get the Sevens on their heels, though, as they got their lead right back up to double digits with an 8-4 run to open the second half. The Drive were not able to mount a serious challenge to the Sevens' lead the entire despite shooting 43 percent from three, just lower than their overall shooting percentage of 45 percent. They only attempted 21 threes.

The Sevens scored over 110 points for the fourth time this season, shooting 82 percent from the free throw line and grabbing 16 offensive rebounds on their way to out-rebounding the Drive 53-39. They made just 28 percent of their three-point attempts but compensated with other forms of offense.

The Drive's next game is their third consecutive at home, a Dec. 7 tilt with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Delaware squares off with the Santa Cruz Warriors at home on Dec. 6.

For ticket information, contact the Drive Box Office at 844-GR-DRIVE (844-473-7483) or go online to www.nbagrandrapids.com.

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