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Riverdragons snap Altitude win streak at the buzzer

November 30, 2004 - NBA G League (G League)
Asheville Altitude News Release


ASHEVILLE, N.C., November 29, 2004 - Seth Doliboa tapped in an Alley Oop pass from Reed Rawlings at the buzzer to defeat the Altitude, 94-93, Monday night at the Asheville Civic Center. Columbus gaining their third win of the season snaps an 11 home-game win streak by the Altitude dating back to Feb. 22 of last season.

"It was just one of those nights," said Altitude point guard Brandin Knight. "Yes, there is a lot of disappointment with a lost like this and we know we let this slip away. This is a learning process and we?ll come back and play them again."

Each team traded baskets throughout the entire game. With a one-point margin separating each of the quarters, except for the third as both teams scored 27 points apiece, the game provided a back-and-fourth outing leading to 18 lead changes and a tight photo finish.

Entering into the fourth quarter and down by two Asheville pounded the ball into Antonio Meeking who continued to shoulder the offensive load for the Altitude finishing with 22 points and eight rebounds. Laboring the final minutes of play, Meeking powered himself to the basket to score six critical points and closing a seven-point lead to one, 89-90, with 49 seconds left in regulation.

Knight, who displayed an aggressive performance scoring Asheville?s first eight baskets of the game, dribbled the length of the floor with 5.6 seconds left in regulation to give the Altitude a one-point lead with six tenths of a second to play.

Columbus head coach Jeff Malone immediately called a time-out to set up the final play that would barely give the Riverdragons the time to take a skillful shot. With the Riverdragons receiving the ball at half court following the time-out Rawlings, standing out of bounds, floated a desperate lofty pass towards the basket to a wide-open Doliboa who easily tipped the ball in for the victory.

"We did everything wrong in those final seconds of play," said Altitude head coach Joey Meyer. "During the timeout we talked about what was to come, but mental errors down the stretch put us in a terrible defensive position to where we could only look at the tip as it went into the basket."

Scott Merritt led the Riverdragons with 19 points and six rebounds. Ricky Minard chipped in 18 points and Mike Benton finished with a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds. Point guard Derrick Zimmerman just two points shy of a double-double, finished with eight points, 10 rebounds, and five assists.

In addition to Meeking, five Altitude players finished with double-digit outings including Brandin Knight (19), Rick Rickert (13), Ron Slay (13) and Kirk Penney (11).

The Altitude will host the Huntsville Flight in their next game, Friday, November 29 beginning at 7:00 p.m. The Riverdragons will head to Florida for back-to-back games, Friday and Saturday, at Germain Arena beginning at 7:30 p.m.

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