G League Iowa Wolves

Energy Clinch East with 104-97 Win Over Ft. Wayne

Published on March 20, 2011 under NBA G League (G League)
Iowa Wolves News Release


DES MOINES, IA, Mar. 20, 2011 - Curtis Stinson scored 23 points and handed out 15 assists to lead the Iowa Energy to a 104-97 win over the Ft. Wayne Mad Ants Sunday. The win clinches the NBA D-League Eastern Conference Championship for the Energy, who have now won three straight conference titles.

Iowa jumped out to a 27-20 lead at the end of the 1st quarter, and extended that lead to 54-42 at halftime. Stinson and Michael Haynes combined for 27 points in the half to fuel the Energy.

Ft. Wayne, which entered the contest with a 1.5 game advantage in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot, battled back in the 3rd quarter. Down 62-50, the visitors went on a 12-2 run featuring five points by guard Chris Kramer to narrow the lead to two. The teams traded buckets throughout the rest of the quarter as a pair of free throws by Ft. Wayne guard Ron Howard made the score 78-74 in favor of Iowa at the end of the 3rd quarter.

The Mad Ants continued to push the Energy in the final quarter. A Ryan Wittman 3-pointer with 9:50 left knotted the score at 81-81. The teams again traded bucks, and a basket by Mad Ants forward Marvin Phillips brought Ft. Wayne to within one point at 94-93 with exactly 2:00 remaining.

With the game on the line, Energy forward Michael Haynes drilled a 3-pointer putting the Energy ahead. After a Ft. Wayne miss, Iowa's Marqus Blakely scored off an alley-oop pass for Stinson to put the game away.

The win was Iowa's 145th consecutive game in 1st place, and moves the team to 34-11 on the year. The win secures home court advantage for the first two rounds of the playoffs.

Ft. Wayne falls to 21-24 on the year, but maintains a 1.0 game advantage over Texas and Austin in the race for the final playoff spot.

Blakely led Iowa with 28 points and added 10 rebounds. Haynes finished with 23 points and 9 rebounds on the night.

Ft. Wayne was led by Kramer's 18 points, while Roderick WIlmont scored 12 in the loss.

The Energy will play their final five regular season games on the road before returning home for the playoffs, which will start in early April. For tickets to Energy playoff games, call 564-8550 or visit www.iowanba.com.

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