Bench Helps Patriots Reduce Magic Number
Published on February 26, 2003 under NBA G League (G League)
Fayetteville Patriots News Release
The Fayetteville Patriots placed five players into double figures and moved closer to clinching a playoff spot with a 92-79 win over the Greenville Groove. Bryan Lucas came off bench to lead the way with a season-high 24 points and eight rebounds. Two other reserves â Junie Sanders and Devin Brown â both scored 14 points apiece.
Brown did not start for the first time in 31 games. Terrell McIntyre, who has started every game this season, notched his second double-double in three games with 10 points and 10 assists. The win moves Fayetteville to 27-14, 4 ½ games ahead of the North Charleston Lowgators.
The win also moves Fayetteville 6 ½ games ahead of fourth place and idle Roanoke, which moves the Patriots magic number for clinching a playoff spot to three.
"We've gotten help off the our bench all year long,'' Fayetteville Patriots coach Jeff Capel said. "This is not the first time this has happened. The one thing I like about this group is that if one or two guys are not going, there's usually someone else who's going to step it up."
Sanders was that player in the second quarter. For the second straight home game, Sanders scored in double figures in the second quarter. Sanders scored 10 points in the second quarter, six of them coming during a 12-4 run that gave Fayetteville a 31-29 lead. The Patriots never trailed again.
"Once I hit my first shot I feel like I'm already in a flow,'' Sanders said. "When I get running up and down the court a bit, I feel good. Whenever I touch the ball I feel like I can score."
Lucas finished off the Groove in the second half. Lucas scored 18 of his 24 in the second half. During a 9-2 third-quarter run, Lucas scored six points, dished out an assist and had two rebounds. The spurt put Fayetteville up by eight, 60-52. The Groove got back to within four, 70-66, with 8:14 remaining in the fourth quarter. But Barnes put the Groove away with a breakaway slam dunk with 6:41 remaining that capped off a 6-0 run.
Jonathan Kerner led the Groove with 13 points. Greg Gray, Soumaila Samake, and Billy Thomas had 11 points each. The Groove is now two games behind the Dazzle for the final playoff spot. Greenville travels to Huntsville Saturday to play the Flight.
"They're a great team,'' Groove coach Tree Rollins said. "They really work well together. They've got the two units to throw at you. Even when they're short-handed by a man they still make shots."
Jason Capel didn't play for the second time in three games with a back injury. Matt Barnes started in his place and finished with 10 points. Groove guard and former Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Lynn Greer had two points in his debut.
NBA G League Stories from February 26, 2003
- Flight Survives Late Run to End Losing Streak - Huntsville Flight
- Bench Helps Patriots Reduce Magic Number - Fayetteville Patriots
- Flight Acquires Long - G League
- Stampede Looking for Mascots - Idaho Stampede
- Greenville 2003 Church Night - Greenville Groove
- Dakota Wizards set CBA season high for attendance - Dakota Wizards
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
