Fort Wayne Wins Back-And-Forth Battle over Idaho to Conclude 2015 NBA D-League Showcase
January 20, 2015 - NBA G League (G League)
Indiana Mad Ants News Release
SANTA CRUZ, CA. Jan. 19, 2015 - The Fort Wayne Mad Ants held on against the Idaho Stampede to win 114-109 in a back-and-forth affair at the 2015 NBA D-League Showcase presented by Samsung.
Reigning, Performer of the Week, Andre Emmett led Fort Wayne with 27 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field, in addition to an 8-of-12 performance from the free throw line. C.J. Fair came off the bench to record 15 points and five steals, while starting guard Gary Talton contributed 17 points and eight assists in the win..
Idaho forward John Jenkins led all scorers with 28 points, which included a four-of-six night from beyond the arc. Guard Shane Gibson connected on all seven of his three-point attempts to notch 23 points in the loss. The Stampede as a team assisted on 29 of their 40 field goals.
Idaho pulled ahead 21-9 to start the game by forcing four early turnovers and misses on seven of Fort Wayne's first 11 attempts from the field. The Stampede's John Jenkins scored 12 points on three-of-four three-point shooting to lead the way, as Idaho team went up 31-26 after the first.
The Mad Ants bounced back to start the second quarter on a 13-6 run to tie the game up at 39. The Stampede responded on the next possession with a three-pointer that gave them back the advantage that they held on to for the remainder of the half. Both teams shot over 50% in the second, with Fort Wayne hitting 12-of-19 shots (63%) and Idaho converting 11-of-21 attempts (52%).
After the Stampede led 61-57 at half, Fort Wayne worked hard in the paint on both ends of the floor to get back in the game. The Mad Ants grabbed six offensive rebounds that led to 10 second chance points in the third and scored 14 of their 29 points in the paint. After three lead changes and three ties, Fort Wayne emerged ahead 86-83 after scoring the final two baskets of the third quarter.
The two teams traded blows throughout the early half of the fourth quarter with four more lead changes. Down 98-97 and 6:14 left in the game, the Mad Ants made their move with a 17-6 run to pull ahead for good. Fort Wayne hit 13-of-14 free throws in the fourth quarter to help solidify the victory.
Both Fort Wayne and Idaho take the court next on Friday, Jan. 23 - the Mad Ants travel to face the Rio Grande Valley Vipers at 7 p.m. CT, while the Stampede will hit the road to take on the Bakersfield Jam at 7 p.m. CT.
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