Columbus Ends Flight Home Win Streak
December 14, 2002 - NBA G League (G League)
Huntsville Flight News Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala, Dec. 14 Derek Strong scored 16 points including four in the final 1:35 to help the Columbus Riverdragons to a 60-57 NBDL victory over the Huntsville Flight here Saturday night at the Von Braun Center..
The win for Columbus upped its season record to 5-6, while Huntsville lost for the first time in five games at home to fall to 8-5.
Strong was one of three Riverdragons in double figures as Tang Hamilton added 14 points and Nate Johnson scored 13. Brandon Williams scored a game-high 20 points for the Flight while Bakari Hendrix added 10.
The Flight, which trailed by as many as 15 points in the third period, cut the margin to 47-43 heading into the final quarter.
"Our team got off to a big lead and that helped us out," Columbus coach Jeff Malone said. "We stepped up our play tonight. We had been struggling coming into this game but pulled it together and got a big "W" against a great team."
The win, though, would not be easy down the stretch for the Riverdragons as Huntsville exploded for a 8-1 run over the first 4:32 of the final period to take a 51-48 lead with 5:28 to play.
The Riverdragons then answered to tie the score at 51. After a Williams bucket to give the Flight a 53-51 advantage with 3:01 remaining, Tyrone Washington hit a free throw and Hamilton added a bucket with 2:11 left to give the visitors a lead that they did not relinquish.
Williams committed an offensive foul during the Flights next possession, before Strong converted a pair of free throws with 1:35 to play and then added a jumper with 56 seconds left to give Columbus a five-point cushion a 58-53.
"We didnt play well for the first three quarters," Flight coach Ralph Lewis said. "We played good basketball in the fourth quarter which allowed us to get back into the game but we just couldnt finish them off."
Sean Peterson and Hamilton each added one of two free throws in the final 15 seconds for the Riverdragons final points.
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NBA G League Stories from December 14, 2002
- Columbus Ends Flight Home Win Streak - Huntsville Flight
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