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Barkley's Buzzer-Beater Defeats Dragons, 89-87

February 24, 2004 - NBA G League (G League)
Columbus Riverdragons News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga.—Erick Barkley's coast-to-coast drive and lay-up at the buzzer lifted the Huntsville Flight to a thrilling 89-87 victory over the Columbus Riverdragons on Tuesday afternoon at Columbus Civic Center. Barkley's game-winner helped the Flight (15-14) avoid a fourth-quarter meltdown and earn their second straight win. The Riverdragons (10-21) came all the way back from an eleven point deficit in the fourth, but could not hang on in the final minute as the late game heroics from Barkley saddled Columbus with its second straight loss and fifth in six head-to-head meetings with Huntsville this season. Barkley finished with a game-high 19 points for the Flight, while Sedric Webber posted a team-high 17 points off the bench for the Riverdragons.

Terence Morris and Webber combined for 13 points in the opening period as Columbus got out to a 25-21 advantage. Both teams struggled offensively out of the gate, with each squad shooting 38% from the floor and combining for nine turnovers in the period. Down two at 21-19 with 1:15 remaining in the quarter, the Dragons went on a 6-0 run, with Webber accounting for all six points on two free throws, a lay-up, and a 21-foot jumper with under a second remaining to give the Dragons a four-point cushion. Mateen Cleaves notched six points on 3-4 shooting to keep the Flight within four heading into the second period.

The Flight responded early in the second quarter as Cheyne Gadson came off the bench to contribute seven points in a span of a minute-and-a-half to propel the Flight on a 13-2 run that gave the Huntsville a seven-point advantage at 34-27 with 7:18 to go in the second period. A Courtney James lay-up with 5:59 to go brought the Dragons back within three at 34-31, but four Columbus turnovers combined with the hot shooting of Phil Ricci helped Huntsville end out the half with a 17-10 run and a 51-41 lead at the break. Ricci tallied eight points in the quarter on his way to ending the half with a game-high eleven.

Both teams went ice cold from the field in the third quarter as the game turned into a defensive battle. Huntsville's Rod Grizzard and the Riverdragons Derrick Zimmerman were the only offensive presence for their respective clubs, as Grizzard hit for eleven points in the period, including 5-5 from the foul line, while Zimmerman tallied ten in the quarter on 4-6 shooting. Up by twelve at 58-46 with 9:50 remaining in the third, Huntsville saw the Dragons claw back in it with a 9-0 run, keyed by Zimmerman's five points and two steals that brought the Dragons within three at 58-55. But Grizzard did his part to keep Columbus at bay, hitting for six points over the final six minutes, including two free throws with two minutes to go that put the Flight up by eleven. Derek Bird's three-pointer with 30.9 seconds left brought the Dragons within eight, at 70-62 at the end of the third period.

Columbus began its comeback with 5:55 left on an Adam Harrington three-ball that brought the Dragons within seven, 80-73. A 6-1 spurt on baskets by Morris, Harrington and Webber helped Columbus get within two with 4:21 remaining. Webber then tied it with a pair of free throws at the 1:59 mark. After a Huntsville miss, Webber gave the Dragons their only lead of the second half on a bank shot, giving the Dragons an 83-81 advantage with 1:21 left. Ricci answered in a big way at the other end, backing down Morris and bullying his way to a lay-in and foul with 1:01 to go. A Ricci free throw gave Huntsville the lead again at 84-83. Barkley upped the advantage to three on a driving lay-up with 15.6 seconds remaining and Columbus was forced to call timeout. The Dragons went for the quick two and got it from Courtney James, whose dunk with 13.3 to made it a one-point affair. Columbus was forced to foul Barkley on the inbounds, but the two-year NBA veteran with the Portland Trailblazers hit one of two free throws to up the lead to two at 87-85 with 12.5 left. Webber looked to be the hero for Columbus on a driving runner that banked home with 3.3 seconds on the clock, but an alert Barkley took the inbounds pass, quickly scrambled up court, and hit a floating lay-in as the horn sounded to give the Flight a thrilling victory.

Ricci finished with 18 points, while Grizzard hit for 15 for Huntsville. The Riverdragons received a double-double off the bench from Terence Morris, who posted 16 points and 16 rebounds in 28 minutes. Zimmerman finished with 13 points, six rebounds, and five assists for the Dragons.

The Riverdragons return to action this Friday night, February 27 at the Columbus Civic Center against the Asheville Altitude at 7:00 p.m.. The Flight continue their road swing on Friday against the Roanoke Dazzle at the Roanoke Civic Center at 7:00 p.m.. For more information log onto nbdl.com.

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