Armor Stunned by Red Claws in 102-95 Loss
Published on December 14, 2013 under NBA G League (G League)
Springfield Armor News Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Springfield Armor (1-6), presented by MGM Springfield, saw a nine-point halftime lead dwindle away over the course of the second half, falling to the Maine Red Claws (5-2) by a final score of 102-95 Saturday night at the MassMutual Center.
Maine's late shooting, coupled with 26 points from Chris Wright and 23 off the bench from Kam Taylor, aided in a second-half comeback that led to a seven-point victory for the Red Claws.
Guard Justin Johnson paced the Armor offense with 18 points on the night, while four other Springfield members reached double figures including Gary Forbes (15 points), Willie Reed (14 points), Dennis Horner (12 points) and Jeff Foote (11 points).
After Maine grabbed a 16-13 lead with 4:47 on the clock in the first quarter, Springfield found its touch to finish the frame on a 14-5 run and take a 27-21 lead after the first 12 minutes. Foote added five points down the final stretch of the first quarter, while Horner led the team with an early eight points.
Springfield continued to build on its advantage, shooting 52.5 percent from the field in the first half to take a nine-point lead into the break. The Armor finished the second quarter on a 6-0 run after Maine cut the lead to just two several times, the latest at 45-43 with just over three minutes remaining, but was never able to gain an edge on Springfield.
Wright helped in the Red Claws first half rally, scoring 12 of his game-high 26 points before the break. Maine shot 40 percent from the field over the first 24 minutes and knocked down 13-of-14 shots from the charity stripe.
Forbes and Johnson led the Armor offense with nine points apiece and Springfield held a 20-18 edge on the boards, but converted just three second chance points.
The Armor started the third quarter hot, building their lead to as many as eight over the first five minutes, but Maine finally knotted the game at 65 with just over three minutes left in the third quarter. With momentum, the Red Claws again tied the game, this time at 70, but Springfield fought back, ending the frame on a 4-0 run to take a four-point lead into the fourth.
The Armor continued to hold a slim edge in the tight-knit game early in the fourth, but eventually opened up a five-point advantage at the eight minute mark. A 5-0 run by the Red Claws brought the game to yet another tie, this time at 86 with 4:34 left in regulation. Maine attacked the basket over the waning moments of the game, using key baskets from Taylor and clutch free throws by Wright in the game's final two minutes to take its first lead since the first quarter and ice a seven-point victory.
Maine's 32 fourth quarter points proved to be the difference in a game that saw the Armor hold a lead for most of the game. Springfield dominated in the paint, outscoring the Red Claws 56-46, but Maine ran away with 23 fast break points to Springfield's two.
The Armor will now hit the road for a pair of midweek match ups beginning on December 18 at Texas before traveling to Rio Grande Valley on December 19. Springfield returns home for a 7:00 p.m. Saturday showdown with the Sioux Falls Skyforce on December 21 for the team's annual 'Season of Giving' game. 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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