G League Cleveland Charge

Charge Fend off BayHawks for 106-104 Win

Published on December 14, 2013 under NBA G League (G League)
Cleveland Charge News Release


The Canton Charge defeated the Erie BayHawks, 106-104, in front of 2,480 at the Memorial Civic Center on Saturday night. The victory was Canton's eighth-straight at home dating back to last season and improved their overall mark to 8-1, while the BayHawks dropped to 0-7.

The Charge pulled ahead, 28-24, after the opening period thanks in large part to their presence inside. Arinze Onuaku scored 10 of the team's 18 points in the paint in the first quarter while Canton outrebounded Erie 12-6.

The Charge maintained an advantage throughout the second period with an efficient offensive output of hitting 9-of-17 shots from the floor (52.9%), seven of which came off of assists. CJ Aiken and Justin Brownlee each netted seven points in the second for the BayHawks, but the visitors trailed 56-49 at the half.

Canton opened the third on a 15-3 run in the first 3:15 that included seven points by Kevin Jones to go ahead 71-52. The BayHawks immediately responded with an 11-0 run of their own over the next 3:37 to cut the deficit to 71-63. Erie forced seven Charge turnovers in the quarter that resulted in six points, but the home team was still up 80-73 heading into the final frame.

The BayHawks continued to fight throughout the fourth quarter, closing the gap to one score on seven different occasions, but each time Canton immediately responded with a counter-bucket to pull back ahead by multiple scores. It wasn't until Chris Smith hit a driving layup with 1:00 remaining that Erie was able to pull even and tie the game.

On the next Charge possession, Kevin Jones buried a three-pointer to go back ahead, but again the BayHawks tied the game at 103-103 when Smith answered with a triple of his own with 29.9 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, Jorge Gutierrez slashed through the left side of the lane and hit a runner that took several bounces off the rim before falling through that ended up putting Canton ahead for good.

For Canton, Onuaku finished with 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting with 12 rebounds, one block and one steal in a season-high 30 minutes for his third double-double of the season. Shane Edwards came off the bench to add 16 points and grab seven boards in 18 minutes. Gutierrez scored six points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out a season-high 12 assists in 25 minutes. Jones scored 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting in 22 minutes.

On assignment from the New York Knicks, Smith poured in 28 points on 12-of-16 shooting with four assists in 37 minutes for the BayHawks. Aiken had 15 points and seven rebounds in 31 minutes. Lewis Jackson added nine points, seven rebounds, eight assists and two steals in 37 minutes of relief. Ricky Davis scored 14 points and grabbed six boards in 28 minutes.

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