Dupree Helps Flash Hold on for Victory
March 28, 2009 - NBA G League (G League)
Utah Flash News Release
OREM, Utah - Ronald Dupree scored 29 points and collected 10 rebounds to help the Utah Flash hold on to a 103-100 NBA Development League victory over Anaheim Saturday at the McKay Events Center and complete the sweep of a back-to-back weekend series with the Arsenal.
Dupree, who tallied his team-high in points on 11-of-15 (73%) shooting from the field and notched his sixth double-double of the season.
"I was able to get in a good rhythm early tonight, and it paid off." Dupree said. "Our offense was effective and shots were dropping for me."
The win was the fourth straight for Utah and improved the Flash to 26-15. Utah completed the eight-game homestand with six victories. The Flash travels to Bakersfield on Monday and returns home Wednesday to host the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Anaheim dropped to 15-31 and travels to Bakersfield on April 4.
Dupree connected on a three-pointer to cap a Flash 17-2 first-quarter run and give Utah a 21-10 lead with 5:07 remaining in the first period. But the Arsenal responded when a Malick Badiane lay-up put the lid on an Arsenal 14-2 run to close out the period and send Anaheim to the second quarter with a 24-23 lead. Badiane, who scored six of his 10 points in the first quarter, also grabbed 10 rebounds on the night.
Anaheim extended its run to 22-4 after an Andre Patterson dunk put the Arsenal up 34-25 with 7:56 left in the first half. Marcus Campbell's hook shot with 6:54 left in the half gave the Arsenal its largest lead of the night at 39-28.
A Dupree free-throw capped a 14-4 Flash run that put Utah up 44-43, before an eventual J.R. Giddens free-throw sent the Flash into the halftime break with a 51-50 lead.
"It's not easy to beat any team in this league two nights in a row." Flash coach Brad Jones said after recording his 50th win as Utah's head coach. "I was real proud of the way our guys persevered, kept fighting back and found a way to win."
Dupree dropped in 12 points in the Flash's 32-point third quarter that left Utah with an 83-68 lead heading into the fourth period.
Anaheim responded with a 21-7 run to tie the game, 90-90, with 4:37 to play before Cedric Bozeman's lay-up with 1:37 remaining in the game put the Arsenal up 99-98. Utah took the lead back after Carlos Wheeler put back a missed shot with 41 seconds left to give the Flash a 100-98 lead.
"Carlos was huge for us tonight." Dupree added. "I told him to be more aggressive at halftime, and he came out and stayed aggressive. He was the MVP of this win tonight."
Kedrick Brown, who knocked down a game-high 32 points, was unable to connect on a potential game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer.
Bozeman added 23 points for the Arsenal, while Campbell doubled up with 19 points and 10 boards.
All five Flash starters scored in double-figures. Utah Jazz assignees Morris Almond and Kosta Koufos added 23 and 14 points, respectively. Boston Celtics assignee Giddens added 13 points. Kevin Kruger chipped in 12 points for the Flash. Wheeler added 10 points off the Flash bench.
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