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Altitude Knock Off Riverdragons In MLK Showcase

January 16, 2005 - NBA G League (G League)
Columbus Riverdragons News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga, January 16, 2005 – The Asheville Altitude got 17 points and some clutch free-throw shooting from Kirk Penney to hold on to a 78-72 win over the Columbus Riverdragons at the Martin Luther King Jr. Showcase at the Columbus Civic Center.

Leading by just two points (74-72) with 30 seconds left to play, Altitude forward Ron Slay found Antonio Meeking open for a uncontested lay-up, extending the Altitude's lead back to four points. Columbus was unable to score on its next possession and Penney sealed the deal for Asheville (11-8) going 2-of-4 from the free-throw line in the final seconds of the game.

"We played better defense tonight," said Altitude head coach Joey Meyer, whose team has won two of its last five games. "We knocked down open shots when we really needed too."

Both teams were playing short a star. Columbus played without forward Obinna Ekezie while Asheville was without point guard Brandin Knight. Ekezie (Atlanta Hawks) and Knight (Houston Rockets) were both called up to the NBA for 10-day contracts prior to the showcase.

"The call-up of Obinna Ekezie hurt, but the offense is not getting it done," said Riverdragons head coach Jeff Malone. "Guys have asked me for more minutes, and I've giving it to them, but they're not producing. If they don't play better, we won't be able to hang around (Monday) either."

The slow and grinding offensive tempo that Asheville used to hold on to the win was a huge contrast to the way they came out of the gates.

Asheville opened up a 15-point first quarter lead (26-11) going 11-of-19 from the field. Penney (eight points) and Meeking (five points) initiated the Altitude's hot start combining for half of the Altitude's 26 first-quarter points.

Columbus, however, made it a game again in the second quarter.

With less than two minutes left before the half, Columbus' Reed Rawlings pulled the Riverdragons to within five points (39-33) when he was fouled while driving to the basket finishing off the team's only first-half steal. Rawlings led the Riverdragons' second quarter charge netting seven points while keeping Asheville's halftime lead manageable at just six points (44-38).

Neither team was able to solidify themselves offensively at the start of the third quarter shooting very cold from the field. Asheville's 5-of-17 third quarter performance might have done more harm if the Riverdragons didn't follow Asheville's lead with a dismal 5-of-20 third quarter performance of its own.

"We started hot, but Columbus' defense picked up," said Altitude head coach Joey Meyer. "They didn't allow us to take too many open shots after that first quarter."

Rawlings finished Sunday's game as the game's high-point man with 18 points on 8-of-16 shooting. Adam Harrington chipped in with 15 points.

Meeking cooled off after his hot first quarter to finish with just 13 points. Timmy Bowers and Ron Slay both chipped in with 12 points each. All six NBDL teams will be in action again today. The Altitude will start the second day of the MLK Showcase hosting the Fayetteville Patriots at 11 a.m. Columbus and Huntsville will then square off at 2 p.m., before Florida and Roanoke close the festivities immediately following the Riverdragons-Flight game.



NBA G League Stories from January 16, 2005


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