Tulsa Fights Back to Top Bakersfield
January 18, 2014 - NBA G League (G League)
Tulsa 66ers News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Tulsa 66ers erased a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to come back and defeat the Bakersfield Jam, 114-110, behind 20 fourth-quarter points from Mario Little on Friday. Little finished with a career-high 32 points on 11-for-19 shooting and added nine assists.
Rodney Bartholomew scored a career-best 32 points of his own on 13-for-18 shooting alongside 17 rebounds - also a career high. Andre Roberson, on assignment from the Oklahoma City Thunder, added 14 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and a pair of steals.
The 66ers entered the fourth quarter trailing the Jam 87-74 before going on a 26-4 run to take a nine-point lead with five minutes remaining. During the seven-minute stretch, the 66ers shot 10-for-12 from the field (including seven made buckets in a row) and held the Jam to 1-of-7 shooting. Tulsa forced five Bakersfield turnovers in the first three minutes of the quarter and nine total in the frame.
The Jam clawed its way back in the final minutes, pulling within three points on a three-pointer from Von Wafer with 40 seconds on the clock. Damion James used a driving layup seconds later to make it a one-point game at 107-106. The 66ers held their ground in the final half minute of the contest, shooting 5-for-6 from the foul line and stopping the Jam on defense to seal the road victory.
Little and Bartholomew, who combined for 64 points on 24-for-37 shooting on the night, have shown great strides of development in their second season with the 66ers. Last season, Bartholomew and Little averaged 5.4 and 3.9 points per game respectively.
Through 21 games in 2013-14, Little has averaged 18.8 points and has scored 20 or more points in nine games. His scoring average has improved by 14.9 points, the largest increase of any returning player in the NBA Development League.
As a team, Tulsa (6-15) notched season bests in shooting percentage (51.1 percent), assists (27) and points in one quarter (40 in the fourth).
Bakersfield (10-13) was led by Von Wafer with 34 points, four rebounds and four assists.
The 66ers are back in action Saturday night in El Segundo, Calif., against the Los Angeles D-Fenders. The matchup can be seen live on YouTube at 8:30 p.m. CT.
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