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Ekezie's Big Second Half Carries Riverdragons to Sixth Straight Win

December 16, 2004 - NBA G League (G League)
Columbus Riverdragons News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga.— Obinna Ekezie poured in 15 second-half points and Ricky Minard tallied a team-high and game-high tying 18 points as the Columbus Riverdragons continued their team-record winning streak with an 82-76 victory over the Roanoke Dazzle on Thursday night at the Columbus Civic Center. Ekezie totaled 17 points overall to help Columbus survive a Dazzle (5-4) third quarter rally and give the Dragons their sixth straight win. With the victory, the Riverdragons earned the best start in NBDL history after nine games, improving to 8-1 overall.

For the second straight game head-to-head, Columbus and Roanoke struggled mightily on offense, as the Dragons shot just 40% from the floor (30-76), while the Dazzle hit just 36% of their shots (31-87) and committed 20 turnovers in the contest.

Up by six at halftime, 39-33, Columbus scored the first four points of the second half on a Derrick Zimmerman lay-in and two Reed Rawlings free throws to boost the advantage to ten, at 43-33, with 11:13 remaining in the third quarter. But the Dazzle responded with a 13-4 run over the 4:56 to close the gap to one point. Terrence Shannon notched seven points in the spurt and James Thomas book-ended the run with lay-ups, as the Dazzle rallied to cut the deficit to 47-46 with 6:17 remaining in the period.

Following two free throws from Cory Alexander that brought the Dazzle within one point again, at 51-50 with 3:27 left in the third, Ekezie took things into his own hands. The 6-9 veteran and four-year NBA veteran scored the Dragons next seven points with a short jumper, lay-in, and three free throws. Ekezie's contribution helped Columbus end the period on a 8-4 spurt and boost the Riverdragons cushion back to five, 59-54, heading into the fourth quarter.

Ekezie and Adam Harrington would combine to put the game away for Columbus in the final period. An Ekezie ten-foot jumper and a Harrington twelve-footer capped a Dragons 5-0 spurt to start the quarter, giving the Dragons a 64-54 lead with ten minutes to play. Roanoke got back within six, 66-60 at the 7:37 on a Matt Carroll long distance jumper, but again Ekezie responded with six points over the next 5:03, capping off a 10-4 spurt with a thundering, two-hand jam that upped the Columbus cushion to twelve, 76-64, with 2:34 to play and ending all Dazzle hopes of a comeback.

A total of four players scored in double figures for Columbus, as Jeff Myers continued his improved play with 13 points and four assists off the bench, and Harrington notched ten points on 5-9 shooting. Scott Merritt led the Riverdragons on the boards with twelve.

Roanoke also had four players score in double figures led by a team-high and game-high tying 18 points from Carroll and 17 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists from Alexander. Shannon contributed 15 points, while Isiah Victor posted a double-double with 13 points and eleven rebounds in the loss.

The Riverdragons return to action next Thursday, December 23 at the Columbus Civic Center against the Asheville Altitude at 7:00 p.m. EST. Roanoke returns home Tuesday, December 21 with a 7:00 p.m. EST tip-off against the Huntsville Flight at the Roanoke Civic Center. For more information, log onto nbdl.com.

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