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Flyers Overwhelm RimRockers

January 5, 2007 - NBA G League (G League)
Fort Worth Flyers News Release


FORT WORTH, Texas, January 5, 2007 - Not even a changing of the guard could fluster the Fort Worth Flyers tonight. With the departure of two guards and arrival of a new one, the home team soared to a 115-94 victory over the Arkansas RimRockers at the Convention Center.

Kelenna Azubuike was not with the Flyers tonight, as he became the first GATORADE CALL-UP of the 2006-07 season on January 2 when the Golden State Warriors signed him to a contract. In two games with the Warriors, including one start, Azubuike has averaged 9.5 points and four rebounds in 20.5 minutes.

Fort Worth also played without Maurice Ager, who was recalled by the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 30. Former Duke guard Sean Dockery made his first appearance tonight after being acquired on January 4.

In the first quarter, both teams started by shooting well. Fort Worth made eight of its first 14 shots and Arkansas made seven of its first 11. The Flyers established an early double-digit lead, 28-18 with 42.4 seconds to go after the newly acquired Dockery connected on a field goal at the shot clock buzzer. The first quarter ended with a 31-20 Flyer advantage. Center Luke Schenscher led his team with 11 points and five rebounds in the period.

"I thought our intensity was very good," Flyers head coach Sidney Moncrief said. "We set the tone early on the defensive end."

Moncrief said the intensity continued with substitutions who picked up the pace and kept the game going.

"I thought our defense was really a big key to the game tonight," he said.

In the second quarter, the Flyers continued their dominance and eventually established a 20-point advantage with 6:13 remaining after guard Corey Santee nailed a three-pointer to make the score 48-28. Santee was phenomenal in the quarter, shooting 5-of-6, including 3 three-pointers. He finished the half with 13 points and one steal. Forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu scored the final seven Flyer points of the quarter. Arkansas forward Olu Famutimi had a lay-in with 51.1 seconds to go, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 67-38 advantage.

Fort Worth won the rebound war in the first half, grabbing 29 boards and allowing Arkansas to obtain 11. The Flyers also edged the RimRockers in second-chance points - the Flyers had 16 while Arkansas had six.

Moncrief said in the absence of the two guards, he and the team knew other players would have to step up.

"That's what I expect offensively - I really expect that we would pick up the pace and we would make shots," Moncrief said.

After the break, the Flyers had a difficult time finding their flow again and missed their first five shots. Guard Jeremy Richardson and Schenscher put their team on the board with free throws, but thereafter the Flyers went cold for more than three minutes. Schenscher made the first home-team field goal with 6:16 to go to make the score 72-53, and guard Kevin Burleson followed up with a three-pointer. By the end of the third, Arkansas eroded the Flyers lead to 81-64.

Moncrief said the starters sat out the second quarter and had a long halftime break. He said he tried to emphasize getting a focus back.

"It was a little too late," he laughed. "They just mentally couldn't quite get there quick enough."

In the last frame, the Flyers found a rhythm again, nailing eight of their first 13 attempts. Arkansas could only come as close as 89-74 with 8:26 remaining. Fort Worth smothered its opponent for the 115-94 victory, and improved to 10-3. Arkansas dropped its seventh straight and fell to 6-9.

The Flyers finished with a 55-29 rebounding edge and shot 43-of-89, including 9-of-19 on three pointers.

Moncrief said the team played well offensively and was set off by solid defense.

"It makes your offense a lot easier when you play good defense," he said.

Richardson led the Flyers with 19 points and added two each of rebounds and assists. Mensah-Bonsu led all players with 18 rebounds and chipped in 15 points, two assists, one steal and one block. Off the bench, Anthony Terrell had 12 points, eight rebounds and two assists.

For the RimRockers, guard Myron Allen had 16 points and three assists. Guard Clay Tucker had 16 points, three rebounds and two assists, and forward Brian Jackson had 14 points and seven rebounds.

Tonight, Dockery had nine points, one rebound, and two each of assists and steals.

Moncrief said Dockery would be a solid player for the team since he controls the tempo well, can push the ball and make shots.

The Flyers will seek a repeat as the teams take on each other tomorrow night at the Convention Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

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