G League Sioux Falls Skyforce

Big Fourth Quarter Propels Skyforce Past Drive

March 5, 2016 - NBA G League (G League)
Sioux Falls Skyforce News Release


The Sioux Falls Skyforce (31-8) pulled away from the Grand Rapids Drive (18-21) late in the fourth quarter to earn a 116-107 victory on Saturday night. The win moved the Skyforce into first place for the best record through a team's first 39 games in NBA Development League history.

Jarnell Stokes (21 points, eight rebounds) led the way for the Skyforce early on, scoring 12 of his 21 points in the first quarter. However, Sioux Falls was never able to pull away from Grand Rapids, and the Drive took a 60-59 lead into the halftime break.

The game was tied 91-91 with 10:30 left in the fourth quarter, but from then on the Skyforce outscored the Drive 25-16 to win their fifth straight home game. Sioux Falls scored 21 points off of 17 Grand Rapids turnovers and outscored the Drive 60-40 in the paint.

Both Teams relied on familiar faces for much of their production. Devin Ebanks led all scorers with 27 points in the game for the Drive. Dahntay Jones (17 points, four rebounds, four assists) and Lorenzo Brown (22 points, eight assists, five rebounds) kept their team within striking distance down the stretch, and Henry Sims added another double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds in the loss for Grand Rapids.

The Drive shot an even 50 percent from the field in tonight's matchup, marking only the fourth time all season Sioux Falls has allowed an opponent to shoot 50 percent or better in a game. The Skyforce are now 3-1 in such games.

Seven different players scored in double figures for the Skyforce, including Bubu Palo who added 22 points on a perfect five of five shooting off the bench for Sioux Falls. Both DeAndre Liggins (16 points, five rebounds, five assists, four steals) and Briante Weber (12 points, eight assists, six rebounds) stuffed the stat sheet in a well-rounded offensive attack.

Keith Benson scored 15 points and added eight rebounds to round out a solid bench performance for the Skyforce. With three Big Fourth Quarter Propels Skyforce Past Drive

The Sioux Falls Skyforce (31-8) pulled away from the Grand Rapids Drive (18-21) late in the fourth quarter to earn a 116-107 victory on Saturday night. The win moved the Skyforce into first place for the best record through a team's first 39 games in NBA Development League history.

Jarnell Stokes (21 points, eight rebounds) led the way for the Skyforce early on, scoring 12 of his 21 points in the first quarter. However, Sioux Falls was never able to pull away from Grand Rapids, and the Drive took a 60-59 lead into the halftime break.

The game was tied 91-91 with 10:30 left in the fourth quarter, but from then on the Skyforce outscored the Drive 25-16 to win their fifth straight home game. Sioux Falls scored 21 points off of 17 Grand Rapids turnovers and outscored the Drive 60-40 in the paint.

Both Teams relied on familiar faces for much of their production. Devin Ebanks led all scorers with 27 points in the game for the Drive. Dahntay Jones (17 points, four rebounds, four assists) and Lorenzo Brown (22 points, eight assists, five rebounds) kept their team within striking distance down the stretch, and Henry Sims added another double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds in the loss for Grand Rapids.

The Drive shot an even 50 percent from the field in tonight's matchup, marking only the fourth time all season Sioux Falls has allowed an opponent to shoot 50 percent or better in a game. The Skyforce are now 3-1 in such games.

Seven different players scored in double figures for the Skyforce, including Bubu Palo who added 22 points on a perfect five of five shooting off the bench for Sioux Falls. Both DeAndre Liggins (16 points, five rebounds, five assists, four steals) and Briante Weber (12 points, eight assists, six rebounds) stuffed the stat sheet in a well-rounded offensive attack.

Keith Benson scored 15 points and added eight rebounds to round out a solid bench performance for the Skyforce. With three blocks on the night, Benson has now recorded seven blocks over his last two games, and has blocked at least one shot in 28 of his last 32 games.

Grand Rapids will travel to Fort Wayne to take on the Mad Ants (17-22) on Wednesday, March 9. Sioux Falls will be traveling as well as they head to Canton Ohio to take on the Charge (25-14) on Friday, March 11).

Check out the Sioux Falls Skyforce Statistics



NBA G League Stories from March 5, 2016


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