
Bighorns Drop Season Opener in Bakersfield
November 25, 2011 - NBA G League (G League)
Reno Bighorns News Release
RENO, NEV.- The Reno Bighorns newly acquired guard Blake Ahearn had 26 points and 6 assists but the Bighorns dropped their season opener to the Bakersfield Jam, 122-97 .The Jam were led by Brian Butch with 28 points and 14 rebounds and Osiris Eldridge with 22 points. Nick Fazekas added 21 points and 9 rebounds for the Bighorns.
The Bighorns came out on a 6-0 run to start the game and took a 10 point lead after consecutive field goals from Ahearn and Chris Matthews with 4:51 to go in the first quarter. The team shot 62 percent from the field and led 39-29 to end the quarter. Ahearn led the Bighorns in the quarter with 12 points and 4 assists.
The Jam came back quickly led by Renaldo Major and Eldridge. First, Eldridge cut the lead to 5 points with a crafty jump shot with 9:30 to left in the half. Then Major made two free throws with 6:15 minutes to go in the half to take the 49-48 lead. When the Bighorns started to regain momentum, Eldridge used an emphatic dunk with 3:45 to go that ignited the Jam into halftime.
To start the third quarter, the Bighorns cut the lead to 8 points but the fast paced offense of the Jam proved to be too much. Again, Eldridge scored a big dunk followed by an easy layup from Justin Graham to take a 14 point lead with 5:50 minutes to go in the quarter. They finished out the quarter with 94-78 lead.
The fourth quarter was much of the same story when the Jam seemingly scored at will on the fast break to finish out the game.
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