
Blue Coats Sweep Away Mad Ants for Season
Published on March 5, 2019 under NBA G League (G League)
Delaware Blue Coats News Release
WILMINGTON - The Delaware Blue Coats (17-23), the NBA G League affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers, defeated the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (19-23), 112-99, on Monday night at 76ers Fieldhouse. Norvel Pelle, Ryan Anderson and 76ers two-way contract player Haywood Highsmith each recorded a double-double as the Blue Coats swept the season series against Fort Wayne (3-0).
Rashad Vaughn posted a game-high 20 points (7-21 fg, 1-7 3fg, 5-5 ft), eight rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes to lead the way for the Blue Coats. Keenan Evans notched another personal high for scoring in a Blue Coats uniform with 18 points (7-13 fg, 3-6 3fg, 1-1 ft), while adding six assists and four steals in 30 minutes. Pelle racked up his ninth double-double of the season with 18 points (8-12 fg, 2-2 ft), 12 rebounds and five blocked shots in 25 minutes. Anderson scored 13 points (4-11 fg, 0-1 3fg, 5-8 ft) and corralled a game-high 17 rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench, while Highsmith tallied 11 points (4-9 fg, 0-3 3fg, 3-3 ft) and 11 rebounds in 35 minutes.
In his second career G League game, 76ers assignment player Zhaire Smith posted 12 points (5-9 fg, 0-1 3fg, 2-2 ft), two rebounds and two assists in 19 minutes for the Blue Coats.
"It was great to see Zhaire out there being a force on both ends," said head coach Connor Johnson. "He sat down and really guarded at an impressive level, and on the offensive end, he was great. He played with a high motor, was great without the ball and made some plays and passes with it."
"Watching Zhaire's return-to-play process has been great," added Johnson. "And it's a real credit to the teamwork between our [Blue Coats] staff and the Sixers. [76ers Player Development Coach] Tyler Lashbrook has been working with him. [Tyler's] been around our team a ton and [has been] in constant communication with [Blue Coats Assistant Coach] Kelly Peters, who has done an outstanding job with Zhaire here. We've been able to provide a consistent message and focus on his development, and it's great to see him start to look more comfortable out there."
The Mad Ants led 64-55 at halftime. However, the Blue Coats hurried out to a 12-2 run to begin the third quarter and went on to snap a three-game losing skid with the victory.
Fort Wayne's Stephan Hicks recorded a team-high 19 points (7-12 fg, 0-1 3fg, 5-5 ft) with eight rebounds in 32 minutes. Rob Gray scored 16 of his 18 points (7-18 fg, 2-3 3fg, 2-2 ft) off the bench in the first half for the Mad Ants, while Travin Thibodeaux added a career-high 16 points (8-15 fg) with nine rebounds and six assists in 27 minutes.
The Blue Coats travel to Washington D.C. for a Friday night contest against the Capital City Go-Go at 7:00 p.m. The team returns home to 76ers Fieldhouse on Saturday night to host the Grand Rapids Drive at 7:00 p.m.
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