Armor's Streak Ends in 110-103 Loss to Charge
February 8, 2014 - NBA G League (G League)
Springfield Armor News Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - A season-high four-game winning streak came to an end Saturday night at the MassMutual Center as the Springfield Armor (10-18), presented by MGM Springfield, were upended by the division-leading Canton Charge (19-11), 110-103.
Darius Johnson-Odom found the hot hand early, connecting on 4-of-7 attempts from the field including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc for 13 points, but for the first time in four games, Springfield found itself trailing after one quarter. Canton used a 22-10 edge in the paint and a 10-of-11 effort from the charity stripe to put the Armor in a nine-point hole entering the second, 37-28.
Canton's Onuaku paced the Charge on both ends of the floor as the 6-9 center registered a team-high 14 points over the first 12 minutes to compliment two blocks and eight boards. Springfield battled back in the second, outscoring the Charge 24-22, but despite 19 first-half points from Johnson-Odom, entered the locker room trailing 59-52.
The Armor won the battle on the boards in the first half, 20-17, but the Charge hit 52 percent of their shots from the field to pull ahead by seven. Joining Johnson-Odom in double figures through the first half was Adonis Thomas with 12 points, coming off a 29-point outburst one night ago against Maine.
Springfield continued to chip away at the nine-point lead the Charge built after the first 12 minutes, pulling within one entering the fourth after a 24-18 advantage in the third period. Canton continued to keep the Armor behind, entering the final stanza with a 77-76 lead, holding Springfield in the rearview mirror since the first quarter.
A physical fourth frame saw Springfield close several gaps, but the Charge answered every run to protect their lead. The Armor whittled down an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit to just four with two minutes remaining, but Canton iced the game down the stretch by knocking down eight straight free throws with less than 20 seconds remaining.
Gilbert Brown led the Charge with 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting, while the Canton bench outscored the Armor reserves 39-13 on the night. Both teams netted five treys, but the Charge were able to connect on nine more baskets from the field (39-30), using a 52-38 advantage on high-percentage shots in the paint.
Johnson-Odom finished with 31 points on an 11-of-23 effort from the field, his second straight 30-point performance. Thomas dropped 24, while forward Dennis Horner added 12. After changing leads three times in the first quarter, Springfield was unable to grab an advantage the rest of the way.
After a day off on Sunday, the Armor will play two straight home games on Monday, February 10 (Bakersfield Jam) and Tuesday, February 11 (Maine Red Claws, NBA D-League affiliate of the Boston Celtics) before breaking for five days while the NBA D-League hosts its all-star festivities in New Orleans. Both games this coming week will tip at 7:00 p.m. inside the MassMutual Center. For more information on the Armor, visit www.ArmorHoops.com or call (413) 746-3263. Keep up with the Armor on Facebook and Twitter.
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