Flame Comeback Falls Short In Overtime, 108-106

Published on February 2, 2005 under NBA G League (G League)
Florida Flame News Release


FORT MYERS, Fla., February 2 - Columbus' Scott Merritt scored 24 points including six in overtime to give the Riverdragons a victory over the Florida Flame at Germain Arena, 108-106. Kirk Haston paced the way for the Flame, leading all scorers with 28 points.

It was all Columbus in the first half as the Riverdragons shot 55-percent from the floor and 87-percent from the foul line to build a 51-43 halftime lead. Columbus forced 11 Flame turnovers that accounted for 16 points in the half.

The third quarter started out just like the first two with Columbus extending their lead to nineteen points behind solid shooting from the entire team. Columbus shot 64-percent and pushed their largest lead of the game to 83-64 on back-to-back 3-pointers by Riverdragons' newcomers Ramel Curry and Leroy Hurd at the end of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter belonged to the Flame as they began to chop away at Columbus' lead. Sparked by an 11-2 run, Florida tied the game at 91-91 with 3:16 remaining on a Marcus Moore lay-up. The two teams then traded baskets until a Carl English jumper with 1:19 remaining gave the Flame their first lead of the game at 99-97. After a Columbus miss, Marcus Moore was then fouled with the opportunity to seal the game with 4.7 seconds left. Moore hit one of two free throws giving the Flame a 100-97 lead, but Columbus' Ramel Curry hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

In overtime, the two teams traded baskets for the first four minutes. But a costly Flame turnover with the score tied 106-106 and six seconds left gave the Riverdragons two free throws. Scott Merritt converted on both free throw attempts and the Flame's last second 3-pointer by Carl English hit the back of the iron.

All five starters scored in double figures for Columbus. Merritt paced the way with 24, Derrick Zimmerman scored 15, Jeff Myers scored 12, Reed Rawlings scored 11, and Mike Benton scored 10. Ramel Curry scored 18 points including the game-tying 3-pointer in regulation for Columbus.

The Flame were led by Kirk Haston with a game-high 28 points, followed by Hiram Fuller with 18, Carl English with 17, and Marcus Moore with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

The two teams will face each other again on Friday and Saturday at Germain Arena. Tip for both games is set at 7:30 p.m.

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