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G League Grand Rapids Drive

Energy Run Away from Drive in Second Half

November 23, 2016 - NBA G League (G League)
Grand Rapids Drive News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, MICH- The Iowa Energy (2-4) picked up their second win in three games on Wednesday night, pulling away from the Grand Rapids Drive (2-2) in the second half on the road to win 99-91.

Wayne Selden Jr. knocked down four three-pointers on his way to a game-high 26 points to lead the Energy. Wade Baldwin, on assignment from the Memphis Grizzlies, chipped in 22 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Nine players found their way onto the score sheet for the Energy, including Michigan State Alumni and Grand Rapids crowd favorite Matt Costello, who had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

On the Grand Rapids side, Kevin Murphy had 23 points, Jordan Crawford provided 15 and Ray McCallum, who was recently named the top prospect in the D-League available for a GATORADE call-up by Prospect Watch, had 20 points and six assists. Chris Horton impacted the game with five offensive rebounds.

Iowa opened the game on 14-4 run, converting on six of first seven field goal attempts, but the Drive were able to answer and tie the game at 19 with two minutes remaining in the first quarter.

The Drive picked up their first lead of the game when they went up 37-35 with three minutes remaining in the first half. Iowa struggled offensively in the second quarter, managing just 14 points, and Crawford hit a three-pointer with less than half a second left in the half to give the Drive a 44-37 halftime advantage.

Iowa responded with a suffocating defensive effort of their own in the third quarter, limiting the Drive to just five points in the first six minutes of the third quarter. They followed that up with a 12-4 run and held a 70-58 lead heading into the final quarter. Altogether, the Energy outscored the Drive 33-14 in the third quarter. The 14 points in a quarter was a new season low for the Drive, and they were not able to close the gap in the fourth quarter either.

The Drive struggled both with moving and shooting the ball. They recorded just 11 assists, shot 37 percent from the field and a season-low 25 percent from three-point range. The Energy were efficient by comparison, connecting on 45 percent of their field goals and nearly doubling the Drive's assist total with 19.

Iowa's next game comes on Nov. 25 when they take on the Canton Charge on the road, while the Drive stay home for a tilt with the Austin Spurs the same day.

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