Austin takes the win again
February 18, 2006 - NBA G League (G League)
Tulsa 66ers News Release
TULSA, Okla. - In a close, last-second play, Tulsa's shot at the win was shattered as the Austin Toros took victory, 100-98 at the Expo Square Pavilion Saturday night. Even the most electric atmosphere of the 66ers' season so far couldn't help change the outcome as John Lucas attempted a three-pointer to win the game at the last second, only to have the Toros block the shot. The buzzer sounded and the Tulsa 66ers lost another one, putting their record at 13-18.
Going into the first, Tulsa guard Bernard King hit five of Tulsa's first 11 points as the 66ers opened an 11-2 lead. The Tulsa lead would continue to grow throughout the first half, extending to 37-25 with 6:12 left in the second quarter.
However, that's when Austin decided it was time to wake up and they began to claw their way back into the game, led by Toros guard Andre Emmett who had 7 first-half points and finished with a total 11 points. Austin would go on a 12-1 run over the next three and a half minutes and pull within one at 38-37 with 3:39 left in the opening half.
But again, King, who finished with 17 points and eight assists, sparked the 66ers, who ran off the last seven points going into the locker room and held a 45-37 lead at the half.
The first half of the third quarter was dominated by former Iowa State star and Toros forward Marcus Fizer, who finished with the game high 23 points. Following two free throws by Fizer at the 7:30 mark, Austin was able to regain the lead at 52-51.
The rest of the quarter was back and forth, and was capped by Tulsa guard Desmon Farmer's three-pointer with :21 to play, sending the game to the fourth tied at 70. Farmer finished with 17 points.
He was a seldom-used reserve that came up huge for the 66ers in the fourth quarter. Tulsa forward Shawnson Johnson came into Saturday night's game having scored just 34 points in his entire 66ers career and then broke out in the fourth quarter in which he scored 11 of his 18 total points, including an ally-oop dunk via Farmer at the 3:33 mark, extending Tulsa's lead to 94-90.
However, as he had done all night, Fizer took charge getting Austin up 100-96 with :10 to play. Following another dunk by Tulsa's Johnson, Fizer was fouled and sent to the line for two shots with only :03 to play. Fizer missed both shots and Tulsa secured the rebound and one more life.
Following a timeout, Lucas, who ended the game with 10 points, got open for a three-point attempt only to have the Toros block the shot at the buzzer and the Toros go 4-0 against the 66ers.
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