Jam Can't Recover Against Austin
Published on February 20, 2010 under NBA G League (G League)
Bakersfield Jam News Release
(Bakersfield, Calif. - February 19, 2010) - The Bakersfield Jam put together an impressive stretch run to storm back from a 17-point deficit but could not get over the top as the Austin Toros held on for a 118-116 victory on Friday night.
Austin grabbed its biggest lead at 107-90 with less than eight minutes remaining in the game, but the Jam roared back with a 14-2 run over a four-minute stretch and ultimately got within one of the Toros. Jeremy Wise led the charge, scoring 11 of his season-high 30 points (to go with six assists, six rebounds and two blocks) in the fourth quarter, but it was Reece Gaines (18 points, 10 assists, four rebounds) who dropped a tough layup to pull the Jam within 117-116 with 13 seconds left in the game, drawing a foul in the process.
Unfortunately for Bakersfield, Reece could not convert on his free throw to tie the game and Dwayne Jones (11 points, four blocks, two steals) grabbed one of his 20 rebounds before a quick foul sent him to the line. Jones left the door open for the Jam by missing both freebies, but Patrick Mutombo missed a five-foot runner on Coach Will Voigt's inbounds play, giving the Toros another chance to put the game on ice with only five seconds remaining and Eddie Basden (11 points, 10 rebounds) headed to the line.
Basden made only one of his free throws, giving the Jam one final chance to tie or take the lead. With no timeouts remaining, John Edwards (10 points, five rebounds) grabbed the rebound and threw an outlet pass to Gaines, but his potential game-winning three bounced off the side of the rim.
Alonzo Gee sparkled for the Toros offensively, dropping in 31 points along with five rebounds and three assists. Austin's leading scorer (and NBA assignee) Malik Hairston had a mediocre shooting night but still finished with 26 points and five rebounds. Guards Lewis Clinch and Curtis Jerrells scored 15 points apiece for the Toros, with Jerrells adding eight assists to the cause.
Bakersfield and Austin will face off again in less than 48 hours, as the Toros reinvade the Jam Events Center for a matinee matchup on Sunday at 4pm Pacific Time.
A full box score for this game can be found at http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/boxscore.jsp?gameId2020900234.
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