Flash Win in Bakersfield to Cap Off Five-Game Road Trip
December 6, 2009 - NBA G League (G League)
Utah Flash News Release
Bakersfield, Calif. - The Bakersfield Jam staged a furious rally down the stretch to pull within striking distance but were unable to get over the top in an exciting 104-99 loss to the Utah Flash.
Jared Newson was brilliant for the Jam, scoring 34 points on remarkable 13-for-16 shooting to go with eight rebounds and three assists before he fouled out with just over a minute left in the contest. His hot shooting and tough rebounding - four of his boards came on the offensive end - kept the Jam in the game throughout the second half, but ultimately proved too little to best an experienced and well-balanced Flash squad.
Andre Ingram scored 24 to lead the Flash, who trailed much of the first two quarters but pulled into the lead before the halfway point and never relinquished it. Dontell Jefferson (18 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds) and Orien Greene (18 points on 7-of-9 shooting) also stood out for Utah, who improved to 4-1 with the victory and held onto sole possession of first place in the NBA D-League's Western Conference.
After a 20-point loss to the Flash on Thursday night, the Jam came out of the gates strong on Saturday, playing with a defensive intensity and offensive aggressiveness that appeared to put Utah on their heels early on. Knock-down shooting from guard John Williams (16 points, 5 assists, 2 steals) and Reece Gaines (18 points, 6 assists) paired with pressure defense that would force the Flash into 22 turnovers on the night helped Bakersfield to a 28-27 lead after the first quarter.
Utah came alive in the second quarter though, as Jefferson and Ingram combined for 14 points in the quarter and the Flash took control of the game 57-52 going into halftime. Coming out of the break, Utah jumped on the Jam and stretched their lead as far as 17 before Bakersfield battled back on the strength of Gaines' and Newson's second-half scoring.
Gaines scored half of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, and hit a three-pointer and a layup on consecutive possessions to cut the deficit to three points with less than a minute left. Unfortunately for the Jam, they could not convert on a subsequent possession and Utah pulled out the victory with clutch free-throw shooting in the final 60 seconds.
Utah once again showed impressive balance in their scoring, with six of the eight players who saw floor time finishing in double-digits and an eighth (Jordan Brady) with nine points. Outside of Gaines, Newson and Williams, none of the other Jam players broke six points.
Utah, who has played all five of their games so far on the road, will fly home to face Dakota in their Monday night home opener.
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NBA G League Stories from December 6, 2009
- NBA D-League Daily Developments - G League
- Flash Play First Home Game Of Season Monday - Utah Flash
- D-Fenders Steal The Win Over Bighorns In Double Overtime - Los Angeles D-Fenders
- Flash Win in Bakersfield to Cap Off Five-Game Road Trip - Utah Flash
- Jam Drop Second Straight to Flash - Bakersfield Jam
- 66ers Come Up Short Against The Vipers - Tulsa 66ers
- Stampede Make Franchise History With 32 Point Win - Idaho Stampede
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