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Altitude Elevate Over Riverdragons In Overtime

January 22, 2005 - NBA G League (G League)
Columbus Riverdragons News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga.— Antonio Meeking and Lenny Stokes combined for 12 points in the extra session as the Asheville Altitude earned a victory for the second straight night in overtime, with a 102-94 win over the Columbus Riverdragons on Saturday night at the Columbus Civic Center. Down 94-91 with 2:18 to play, Asheville ended the game with an 11-0 run to earn its fourth straight victory. The Altitude (14-8) now trail the first-place Riverdragons (14-6) by only one game in the NBDL standings. With the loss, Columbus dropped its fifth straight decision.

Ron Slay connected for his second double-double in as many nights, with 24 points and 11 rebounds off the bench to lead the way for Asheville. Scott Merritt led all scorers with a game-high and season-high 27 points for the Riverdragons in the loss.

Columbus led by five points, 66-61, heading into the fourth quarter but once again could not hang on to the lead late in the game. With the score 74-69 following a Merrit lay-up at the 8:51 mark of the final quarter, Asheville connected for three straight easy baskets, on a dunk and lay-up from Slay and a Joseph Forte lay-in that finished off a 6-1 run to tie the game at 75 apiece with 6:30 left.

Both teams traded baskets down the stretch. A Kevin Braswell jumper gave the Dragons an 82-80 lead with 4:01 remaining, but Slay hit for a reverse lay-up with 3:43 on the clock to tie it again. After both sides traded free throws, Brandin Knight broke the tie with a 15-footer to give the Altitude an 85-83 lead. Following a steal on a Knight pass, Merritt added to his point total with two free throws to tie it at 85-85 with 1:54 to go. After an Asheville miss at the other end and Kirk Penny loose ball foul, Jeff Myers had an opportunity to put the Dragons up, but promptly missed two free throws. Stokes broke the tie with a lay-in with 1:07 remaining, but Braswell quickly answered with an 11-foot jump shot that tied the game with 53.9 seconds left. Penney missed an Asheville three-pointer and Jeff Myers misfired on a Columbus trey in the final 30 seconds to send it to the extra period.

Stokes got the scoring going in overtime with a pair of free throws, but Columbus responded with a 7-2 run over the next 2:26 on three lay-ups and a Merritt free throw to open up a 94-91 lead with 2:18 to play. But the Altitude took over, holding Columbus scoreless on its final six possessions. Stokes started the rally with a lay-up and free throw for a three-point play to tie the game at 94-94 with 2:05 remaining. A Knight lay-in and two Meeking dunks sealed the game for Asheville, as the Altitude ended the game with an 11-0 spurt.

Asheville finished with five players in double figures. Along with Slay's 24 points, Stokes poured in 22, Knight added 15, and Meeking along with Forte added 13 points apiece.

The Riverdragons also had a total of five players in double figures. Braswell notched 17 points off the bench while Rawlings added 14, Zimmerman registered 11 and Myers finished with 10 points in the loss.

Both teams return to action with a rematch this Tuesday night, January 25 at the Asheville Civic Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.. For more information, log onto nbdl.com.

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