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Groove Knock Down Patriots

February 1, 2003 - NBA G League (G League)
Greenville Groove News Release


The Greenville Groove used a strong inside presence to wear down the Fayetteville Patriots in the post and the standings. Groove forward Kevin Lyde scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Groove to an 87-78 win over the Patriots. Groove center Soumaila Samake added 12 points, nine rebounds and five blocks.

Four Groove players reached double figures. It was the Groove’s second straight win over the Patriots and pulled the Patriots into a first-place tie with the Mobile Revelers.

Lyde came into the game averaging 11.0 points and 8.3 rebounds in his last three contest versus the Patriots. The former Temple standout even improved on that Saturday night as he hit crucial basket after crucial basket in the fourth quarter. Every time the Patriots appeared as if they wanted to close the gap, Lyde’s wide body widened the lead.

Patriots forward Bryan Lucas scored down low to cut the Greenville lead to three, 72-69 with 4:43 remaining. On the ensuing possession, Lyde grabbed a Donald Hand miss and dunked it to extend the Groove lead to five. With the Groove up 76-70 with 3:29 remaining, Lyde again grabbed an offensive board and scored on a hook shot to extend the lead to eight. Lyde put the game away with a layup in the lane with 1:43 to go that gave the Groove a comfortable six point advantage.

"Kevin’s really a smart player to be so young,’’ Groove assistant coach Stephanie Ready said. "To come from Temple where John Chaney is one of the best basketball minds in the country and it shows through Kevin’s awareness. He does a really good job of stepping off the block and seeing the entire floor before he just throws the ball."

Samake did his work on the defensive end. Samake helped the Groove trim a five-point halftime lead with three straight blocks to open the second half.

"I think they made a pretty strong statement to start the third quarter,’’ Patriots coach Jeff Capel said. "We talked at halftime about going inside rather than settling for jump shots because our shots weren’t falling. We go inside the first three plays to start the second half and Samake blocked them."

The Groove out-rebounded the Patriots 42-35 and free throw shooting hurt the Patriots as they were just 13-for-20 from the line. Jameel Watkins led the Patriots with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Junie Sanders added 13 points on 6-for-8 shooting.

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