Armor Drops 92-91 Thriller to Sevens

Published on December 27, 2013 under NBA G League (G League)
Springfield Armor News Release


SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - With a chance to hit a buzzer-beating shot, the Springfield Armor (2-10), presented by MGM Springfield, were unable to get off a last-second attempt as the Delaware 87ers (3-10) took the first-ever meeting between the two teams Friday night, 92-91.

The Armor started hot, knocking down the first seven points, but after taking the 7-0 lead at the 9:30 mark, Springfield's shots went cold as the Sevens rattled off nine straight of their own to take their first lead.

Armor guard Adonis Thomas began the night 4-for-4 from the field for nine points which lasted into the second quarter before finally misfiring. After ending the first with a 25-21 lead, Springfield's edge was whittled away in the second as Delaware's Reeves Nelson caught fire, ending the first half 7-of-8 from the field and 5-for-5 in the second quarter for a game-high 14 points at the break. Springfield led by as many as nine in the first half, but the Sevens ended the final four minutes of the half on a 17-6 run to take a 48-46 lead into the locker room.

Forward Dennis Horner led the Armor at halftime with 12 points, while Thomas added his nine off the bench.

Delaware continued its late first half run into the third quarter, hitting three of its first four shots for eight consecutive points to begin the frame, stretching the lead to 10 just two minutes in. The Armor roared back over the next seven minutes, pulling within one at 63-62, but ending the third trailing by six (74-68) despite Horner's nine points in the frame. The Sevens' eight treys aided in the six-point edge entering the final 12 minutes, including two straight at both ends of the third.

After falling behind by as many as six in the fourth, Springfield once again rallied and with the help of Thomas' 20th point of the night, took its first lead since the first half at 78-76. The advantage was short-lived as Delaware connected on a three-point play on its next possession to regain the edge.

Tied at 81 with five minutes to play in regulation, the two teams seemed to go shot-for-shot down the final stretch. With Delaware leading by three, 92-89, Armor newcomer Larry Anderson drove to the basket, connecting on a hard-fought layup to pull Springfield within one. On their next possession, the Sevens turned the ball over via a jump ball, allowing the Armor to call a timeout with 5.1 seconds on the clock. With the ball and a one-point deficit, Springfield was never able to get off a final shot as Delaware hung on for its third victory of the season.

Former Armor guard Lorenzo Brown led the Sevens with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, while Nelson and Thanasis Antetokounm added 16 points apiece. Delaware used 25 fast-break points and 52 points in the paint erase an 11-point deficit the team faced in second chance points (19-8).

Horner finished the night with a game-high 27 points, coupled with Thomas' 23 for just the second time two Armor players eclipsed the 20-point threshold in the same game this season (0-2).

The Armor will finish off the home-and-home weekend set with Delaware Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. inside the Bob Carpenter Center in Wilmington, Del. For more information on the Armor, visit www.ArmorHoops.com or call (413) 746-3263. Keep up with the Armor on Facebook and Twitter !

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NBA G League Stories from December 27, 2013


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