Bench Helps Flight Pull Away with Big Fourth Quarter
April 9, 2005 - NBA G League (G League)
Huntsville Flight News Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. â The Huntsville Flight broke open a close game early in the fourth quarter and defeated the Roanoke Dazzle 104-84 in National Basketball Development League action at the Von Braun Center. Huntsville set a franchise record with win number 27, eclipsing the previous mark set in 2001-02.
Huntsville (27-20) led Roanoke (26-21) 72-64 at the start of the final period, when the Flight's Ronald Blackshear and Antoine Pettway took over. Blackshear scored eight points and had one steal, and Pettway had four assists and two steals as the Flight went on an 18-8 run in less than four minutes. The backcourt mates would combine for 19 points, eight assists and four steals in the quarter, as the Flight led by as many as 21.
With the win, the Flight put themselves in position to secure home court advantage in the opening round of the 2005 NBDL Championship Tournament presented by Delta Airlines. With a win in tomorrow night's season finale in Asheville, Huntsville would finish the regular season in second place, and host the third-place team in round one on Sunday, April 17.
Rodney Bias led the Flight with 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Kyle Davis had season-highs with 17 points and 13 rebounds in 35 minutes off the bench. Bryant Matthews contributed 13 points, six rebounds and four assists off the bench as the Flight bench outscored the Dazzle reserves 64-17.
Roanoke forward Isiah Victor led all scorers with 30 points and 12 rebounds. Kevin Owens had 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Sung-Yoon Bang added 15 points. Roanoke, now tied for third with Asheville, finishes the regular season tomorrow night in Columbus. A win at Columbus, combined with a Flight loss at Asheville would give the Dazzle home court advantage in the first round.
Roanoke started strong, jumping out to a 21-9 lead, and led 23-17 after one. The Flight battled back in the second quarter, outscoring the Dazzle 24-14 behind six points and six assists from Davis. Bias, Matthews and Jason Miskiri had eight points each in the third quarter as the Flight opened up an eight point lead heading into the fourth.
The teams split the 10-game season series.
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