Asheville, Columbus Awakening

February 16, 2004 - NBA G League (G League) News Release

SCORING RECORDS KEEP FALLING

For the second time this season the NBDL combined scoring record has been broken. Asheville and Roanoke combined to score a record 248 points in the Altitude's 127-121 overtime victory on Feb. 11. The previous two-team record was set earlier this season when Roanoke beat Fayetteville 128-108.

ALTITUDE SMOKIN'

Since the New Year, the Asheville Altitude has posted an 11-5 record to climb into a tie for third place in the NBDL standings at 13-13. Since Jan. 19, Asheville has won seven of nine games. Over that stretch the Altitude has scored more than 100 points 11 times and is the only team in the league averaging more than 100 points per game for the season (100.1).

NEW LIFE IN COLUMBUS

A breath of new life has found its way into the Columbus Riverdragons. After struggling for much of the season, Columbus suddenly finds itself winners of three of the last four games and two straight for just the second time all season.

BACK IN THE SADDLE

Columbus guard Adam Harrington seems to have recovered nicely from an injury that sidelined him in late January and early February. He has averaged 21 points over the last two games and has converted 16 of 28 field goal attempts (.571).

GRAND THEFT-SPALDING

The Charleston Lowgators broke a franchise record with 23 steals in a 115-97 victory over Fayetteville Saturday at the North Charleston Coliseum. Chuck Eidson, from nearby Summerville, S.C., tied an NBDL season high by posting six of those steals. Nine of 10 players that logged time in the game for the Lowgators recorded at least one steal.

TENNESSEE VALLEY MARDI GRAS

The Huntsville Flight will host "Mardi Gras Night" this Friday night when the Asheville Altitude visits the Von Braun Center. The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a free set of Mardi Gras beads.

GATORADE CALLUP REPORT

There have been six NBDL-to-NBA "Gatorade Callups" to date this season. Following is that most current list.

Player NBA Team NBDL Team
Mikki Moore New Jersey Nets/Utah Jazz Roanoke Dazzle
Ronald DuPree Chicago Bulls Huntsville Flight
Ime Udoka LA Lakers Charleston Lowgators
Tierre Brown New Orleans Hornets Charleston Lowgators
Omar Cook Portland Trail Blazers Fayetteville Patriots

A TALE OF TWO HOME COURTS

Charleston and Columbus are at the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to success on home courts. The Lowgators at 10-3 at home this season, while Columbus is 3-10.

WHO'S HOT?

In Asheville...
· F Desmond Penigar is averaging 20 points and 8.5 rebounds over his last four games.
· F Greg Stevenson has converted 24 of his last 38 field goal attempts (.632).
· G Rusty LaRue has converted 9 of his last 14 three point attempts (.643).

In Charleston...
· G Tierre Brown has averaged 17.0 points and 10.5 assists over the last two games.
· F Rolan Roberts has converted 14 of his last 24 field goal attempts.

In Columbus...
· G Derrick Zimmerman has made 12 of his last 21 field goal attempts.
· F Kevin Lyde has recorded eight blocked shots in the last three games (2.7)

In Fayetteville...
· F Junie Sanders is averaging 19.3 points over the last three games.
· C Jason Collier is averaging 8.3 rebounds over the last three games.

In Huntsville...
· G Mateen Cleaves is averaging 23 points over his last two games.
· Rodney Bias, Phil Ricci and Ike Nwankwo all averaged 8.0 rebounds last week.

In Roanoke...
· C Josh Asselin has made 21-of-36 FGA, 17-of-18 FTA and averaged 19.7 points over the last three games.
· F George Williams has grabbed 26 rebounds in the last three games (8.7 pg).
· G Marque Perry is averaging 11.3 assists and 3.0 steals over the last three games.

LEAGUE LEADERS

Player Pos Team PG/PCT
Scoring Desmond Penigar F Asheville 20.0
Rebounding Rodney Bias F Huntsville 8.7
Assists Tierre Brown G Charleston 7.2
Steals Tierre Brown G Charleston 2.0
Minutes Played Marque Perry G Roanoke 39.3
FG Percentage Greg Stevenson F Asheville .558 (87-156)
3 PT Percentage Rusty LaRue G Asheville .511 (23-45)
FT Percentage Rusty LaRue G Asheville .870 (20-23)
Blocked Shots Ken Johnson C Huntsville 2.6

COMING UP THIS WEEK

Day Date Game Local Time
Mon. Feb. 16 Fayetteville at Columbus 4:00 p.m.
Thur. Feb. 19 Roanoke at Charleston 7:00 p.m.
Fri. Feb. 20 Columbus at Charleston 7:30 p.m.
Asheville at Huntsville 7:00 p.m.
Sat. Feb. 21 Roanoke at Fayetteville 7:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
Sun. Feb. 22 Roanoke at Asheville 3:00 p.m.
Huntsville at Fayetteville 5:00 p.m.

RECENT TOP PERFORMANCES

Feb. 11: Asheville F Desmond Penigar scored 18 points in the first quarter of a 127-121 win at Roanoke. He finished the game with 30.

In the same game Roanoke G Matt Carroll came off the bench to score 28. He was one of four Dazzle players to score 21 or more points in the game.

Feb. 13: Columbus G Adam Harrington scored 24 points at Fayetteville in his first game back as a starter after coming back from an injury. He hit 9-of-13 FGA.

Asheville's Penigar made it two consecutive strong outings with 21 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Huntsville.

Feb. 14 Charleston G Tierre Brown notched a double-double with 12 points and a season-high 16 assists in a victory over Fayetteville.

In that same game, Fayetteville F Junie Sanders came off the bench to score 25 points and grab nine rebounds.

Roanoke C Josh Asselin poured in 35 points and collected nine rebounds in a 116-111 Dazzle win at Huntsville.

Huntsville G Mateen Cleaves came off the bench to score 26 and dish out six assists against Roanoke, while F Phil Ricci scored 23 and had 13 rebounds.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

Feb. 13: FAYETTEVILLE PATRIOTS: Signed G Brian Brown.

Feb. 11: ASHEVILLE ALTITUDE: Waived F Brandon Kurtz.

ROANOKE DAZZLE: Signed C Marc Mazur. Waived G Donald Hand.

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NBA G League Stories from February 16, 2004

• Strong Fourth Quarter Propels Riverdragons To Third Straight Victory - Columbus Riverdragons
• Patriots change game time - Fayetteville Patriots
• Asheville, Columbus Awakening - G League
• Church Choirs Invited To Participate In Riverdragons "Faith and FamilyNight" March 5 - Columbus Riverdragons

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