Eight is enough in Patriots win
March 13, 2004 - NBA G League (G League)
Fayetteville Patriots News Release
Despite playing with a roster trimmed by NBA call ups and tragedy, the Fayetteville Patriots ended the Asheville Altitude's five-game winning streak with a 119-116 win at the Crown Coliseum. Bryan Lucas led four Patriots who scored 20 or more points on Friday with 27. Brian Brown ended the night with a season-high 22 points, while Kenny Satterfield and Cedric Henderson scored 20 points apiece. It marked the first time four different Patriots scored 20 points or more in a single game.
"No, I don't want to do this every night,'' said Patriots coach Jeff Capel, who played with an eight-man roster. "We won this game with smoke and mirrors tonight. We're going to need to get back to 10 as soon as possible, but it was nice to see eight guys never bow down."
The Patriots played with eight players because Jason Collier and Britton Johnsen earned NBA call ups on Monday and Wednesday respectively. The Patriots roster returned to nine when they acquired Ernest Brown.
But it went back down to eight because second-leading scorer Junie Sanders had to attend a funeral on Friday. It appeared the roster shortage would help the Altitude earn its fifth straight win over the Patriots this season as it jumped out to a 12-point halftime lead.
By the start of the third quarter however, the Patriots sliced the lead to five, 92-87. A Satterfield three with 6:02 remaining in the fourth quarter put the Patriots in front 102-101. It was Fayetteville's first lead of the game. Four minutes later, Satterfield followed a Brian Brown miss to give the Patriots their biggest lead of the game at 114-107.
But a Kris Lang free throw, a Kareem Reid layup and a Reid steal and layup moved the Altitude to within two, 114-112, with 1:16 to play.
After a Satterfield free throw, Kris Lang cut the Patriots lead to one with a turnaround hook shot with 14.9 seconds remaining. Capel then drew up a play to seal the game.
Coming out of a timeout, Lucas slipped past a back screen and found himself wide open. Jason Capel whipped in a perfect pass for a Lucas dunk that put the Patriots ahead 114-111.
"It's funny, we ran that same play against them last year to win a game,'' Lucas said. "I thought the would recognize me looping around there, but no one was on me when I got the pass."
Antonio Meeking led the Altitude with 26 points, and Lang added 23. The win moves the Patriots to within a half game of the Flight for the fourth and final playoff spot. The Altitude is still a game behind frontrunner Charleston.
The Patriots return home on Thursday to face Columbus. Asheville plays Columbus tonight at home on NBA TV, starting at 7:15.
NBA G League Stories from March 13, 2004
- Asheville Altitude defeat Columbus Riverdragons 103-83 - Asheville Altitude
- Roanoke - Huntsville wrap up - Roanoke Dazzle
- Eight is enough in Patriots win - Fayetteville Patriots
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