Cold Night In Dakota Brings Warm Win

Published on December 16, 2008 under NBA G League (G League)
Dakota Wizards News Release


BISMARCK, N.D. -- The Tulsa 66ers were in the midst of the kind of nightmarish road trips that are the stuff of minor-league legend, but the Dakota Wizards weren't about to show them any mercy.

After running one bus into a ditch on Sunday, then having another succumb to a frozen fuel line in the brutal cold on Monday, the 66ers finally got to Bismarck at 6:45 p.m. on Monday. That was just a little more than an hour before tip-off for a game that had been postponed a day, then delayed an hour.

No wonder that the 66ers could manage just six points in the first nine minutes. By then the Wizards had already run up a 17-point lead en route to a 114-94 victory.

"We knew they were in a bad situation, so we wanted to come out hungry," said Wizards guard David Bell, who led all scorers with 24 points. "We talked about it in the locker room. We didn't want to be lackadaisical."

The Wizards (3-5) came out racing, quickly building a 23-6 lead. When Tulsa did put together its best run during the second quarter, pulling to within seven on a couple of occasions, the Wizards answered and cruised in the second half.

"They've got veterans," Wizards coach Duane Ticknor. "We knew they were going to make a run."

The Wizards, who have been hurting at the 3-point line, got a huge night for Bell, who fell one point short of his career-high and more than doubled his season average of 11.6 points per game.

"I knew I had to step up and start shooting the ball better," Bell said. "I haven't been that consistent. This is where it should start."

The Wizards got strong performances up and down the lineup. Renaldo Major had a strong all-around game with 22 points, seven rebounds, six assists and five steals. Maurice Baker chipped in with 19 points, six rebounds and six assists.

But Ticknor was especially pleased with the play of big men Will Frisby (11 points) and Hamed Haddadi, who had 8 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks.

"Will had a great basketball game, regardless of numbers," Ticknor said. "Haddadi played his best game. It's kind of falling together a little bit."

The defensive effort also pleased Ticknor. No 66er scored more than Ronald Dupree's 17, and the Wizards forced 28 turnovers.

"The last couple of games it looks like the lights are starting to come on defensively with what we're trying to accomplish," Ticknor said. "We held our last two opponents under 100, which in this league is unheard of."

It was the first home win in four tries for the Wizards. Dakota, which has been dominant at the Bismarck Civic Center for the past decade, was off to its worst home start since 1998-99, when they went 0-5.

"We were a little embarrassed about losing those home games," Ticknor said. "Not only has the coaching staff been talking about it, but the players have been talking about it. It was important to them to have a good performance at home."

Bell agreed.

"We're trying to get on a roll here, so we have to get more consistent," Bell said. "Hopefully it's starting right now."

NOTES: Former Wizard Blake Ahearn was waived by the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. Ahearn, who had been on assignment with the Austin Toros, is eligible to return to the Wizards. ... Even with the game being postponed a day and delayed an hour, and temperatures 20 below zero, attendance was 1,788. Though it was the smallest crowd for a Wizards' home game since Feb. 9, 1999, when they drew 1,453 for their final game of the season against Rapid City, it was larger than expected. It was phenomenal. That was great to see that many people coming out.

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