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Comeback Effort Lifts Flame To Victory Over Riverdragons

January 20, 2005 - NBA G League (G League)
Columbus Riverdragons News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga.— Marcus Moore’s three-pointer with 57.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter gave the Florida Flame the lead for good and Kirk Haston poured in a game-high 22 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, as the Florida Flame rallied for a 99-95 victory over the Columbus Riverdragons on Thursday night at the Columbus Civic Center. The win was the second straight for Florida (5-14), while the loss was the fourth in a row for Columbus (14-5), which saw its lead over second place Roanoke (12-7) shrink to two games in the NBDL standings.

The Flame capitalized on Columbus fouls and good free throw shooting down the stretch, after the Riverdragons were hit with their fifth team foul on Mike BentonÂ’s hack of Kirk Haston with 7:36 to go. Florida hit 17 of the final 18 free throws over the last 7:36 to pull out the win.

Following a Kitwana Rhymer dunk with 7:12 remaining that gave the Riverdragons an 83-77 lead, the Flame turned to Haston, who hit two free throws and a lay-up to spark a 5-0 run over the next 1:40 that brought Florida within a point at 83-82. After a Jeff Myers free throw that gave Columbus a two point lead, Fuller was fouled by Rhymer and hit two free throws to tie the game at 84 apiece with 3:57 remaining.

The Flame took the lead with 3:15 left on a pair of free throws from former Riverdragon Tremaine Fowlkes, making the score 86-84. A Myers foul of Byron Mouton and two subsequent free throws put the Flame up by four points, 88-84. But Scott Merritt and newest Riverdragons Kevin Braswell connected for a lay-in and 22-foot jumper to pull Columbus even at 88 apiece.

Fowlkes broke the tie on a 15-foot jumper with 1:33 remaining, but the Dragons answered again with Braswell, who blew by Marcus Moore for a lay-up and was fouled. BraswellÂ’s free throw with 1:20 left gave Columbus its final lead, at 91-90.

Moore answered with a three-pointer from the top putting the Flame back in front at 93-91 with 57.9 seconds on the clock. Following a Dragons miss, Hiram Fuller was fouled by Myers with with 21.6 seconds left. Fuller promptly hit two free throws to make it a two-possession game. Reed Rawlings responded on the other end with a lay-up with 14.9 on the clock to bring the Dragons within two points at 95-93.

On the ensuing inbound, Braswell was forced to foul Moore, who hit two free throws to build the lead back to four at 97-93 with 12.2 left. Columbus came up empty on its next possession and Fuller hit two more free throws to clinch the win for the Flame.

Florida finished with four players in double figures. Along with his game-high scoring total, Haston posted a game-high 12 rebounds for his seventh double-double. Fowlkes added 19 points, while Fuller posted his seventh double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Moore notched 14 points and nine assists in the victory.

The Riverdragons had a total of six players in double figures. Braswell had a team-high 16 points in his Columbus debut. Rhymer posted a season-high 15 points and eight rebounds with Benton and Seth Doliboa adding 13 points apiece. Scott Merritt and Neil Yanke notched 10 points in the loss.

The Riverdragons return to action this Saturday night, January 22 for a 7 p.m. match-up with the Asheville Altitude at the Columbus Civic Center.

The Flame head to Asheville tomorrow night to face the Altitude at the Asheville Civic Center. For more information, log onto nbdl.com.

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