Barron Blankets Texas as Bakersfield Wins Showcase Cup Opener
January 15, 2015 - NBA G League (G League)
Bakersfield Jam News Release
SANTA CRUZ, CA. Jan. 15, 2015 - The Bakersfield Jam held off a fourth-quarter rally by Texas Legends to win the opening game of the Showcase Cup at the NBA D-League Showcase presented by Samsung, 109-102.
Both squads qualified for the Showcase Cup by virtue of their records as of Jan. 1, as the top eight teams compete to become the first-ever Showcase Cup champion.
Earl Barron finished with 30 points, 23 rebounds and three steals to lead the way for Bakersfield. The 23 rebounds are the most recorded in a game this season, surpassing 22-rebound performances by the Iowa Energy's Jarrid Famous and Hassan Whiteside, now with the Miami Heat. He entered the Showcase Cup averaging 20.3 points and 10.5 rebounds (eighth in the NBA D-League).
Barron registered six points and nine rebounds in the first quarter to give Bakersfield a 27-18 lead at the end of one frame. The Jam took a 58-37 lead into the locker room and had its largest lead of the afternoon at 77-51 with just under four minutes to play in the third quarter.
Texas rallied in the fourth quarter. Ricky Ledo hit a three-pointer halfway through the fourth quarter and followed that up with a lay-in to cut the deficit to eight. Ledo finished the day with 16 points and four assists, with 14 of those points coming in the fourth quarter.
With 1:15 remaining in the game, Ledo struck again with another three-pointer and Renaldo Balkman came up with a steal and layup to make the score 104-98 with just under one minute to play. The closest Texas came was 105-100 before Bakersfield sealed the win at the free throw line compliments of Barron and Archie Goodwin.
Goodwin, who joined Bakersfield on assignment from the Phoenix Suns yesterday, made an immediate impact. He notched 24 points on 7-for-18 shooting. Mac Koshwal added 16 rebounds and four assists for the Jam in the win.
Bakersfield marches on to the semifinals and will take on the winner of the Maine Red Claws vs. Sioux Falls Skyforce game on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 12:45 p.m. PT. Texas will play in the consolation bracket on Sunday, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. PT.
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