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Four Riverdragons Named To 2004-05 All-NBDL Teams

March 28, 2005 - NBA G League (G League)
Columbus Riverdragons News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga., March 28 – The National Basketball Development League announced today that four members of the Columbus Riverdragons have been named to the 2004-05 All-NBDL teams. Dragons point guard Derrick Zimmerman earned second-team honors, while small forward Reed Rawlings, power forward Scott Merritt, and center Mike Benton earned honorable mention selections.

"I'm happy for the guys," said Riverdragons head coach Jeff Malone. "A big reason for our success this season is because of a balanced effort by our team. Having four selections to the All-NBDL team shows that."

Zimmerman, the 6-2, second-year pro from Mississippi State ('03) is currently #2 in the NBDL in total assists (231) and steals (78). The Monroe, La. native ranks third in the NBDL in assists average (5.5) and steals average (1.8) while scoring 8.4 points per game. Zimmerman set two Riverdragons team records this season, with six steals versus Roanoke on February 17 and 14 assists against Florida on March 26 at the Columbus Civic Center.

Rawlings, a 6-7, swingman from Samford University ('01) leads Columbus in total points (554) and ranks twelfth in the NBDL in scoring average (13.2). The five-year minor league veteran currently ranks third in the NBDL in three-point field goal percentage (40.5%) and fifth overall in both free throw percentage (83.7%) and steals average (1.3). Rawlings has led the Riverdragons in scoring in 13 games, including a season-high 26 points against Huntsville on March 19 at the Von Braun Center.

Merritt, the 6-10, first-year pro out of Marquette ('04) leads the Dragons and currently ranks ninth in the NBDL in rebounding, averaging 6.7 boards per game. The Milwaukee, Wis. native also ranks second on the club and 13th in the NBDL in scoring, with an average of 13.0 points per contest. Merritt has led Columbus in scoring eight times and rebounding 13 times during the 2004-05 campaign.

Benton, a 6-10, center from the College of Charleston ('04) is the NBDL leader in blocked shots, with 84 swats, and currently ranks #2 in the NBDL in blocked shots average (2.0). The rookie also leads the Riverdragons and is fifth in the NBDL in field goal percentage, hitting 53% of his shots from the floor. Benton has tallied four or more blocks in a game five times, including a season-high five swats versus Asheville on December 9 at the Columbus Civic Center.

The first-place Riverdragons (26-16) begin a two-game road swing this Wednesday night, March 30, as they travel to take on the second-place Roanoke Dazzle (25-18) at the Roanoke Civic Center at 7:00 p.m.. Columbus currently leads Roanoke by one-and-a-half games for the top spot in the NBDL with six games remaining in the regular season. The Dazzle lead the season series, 4-3, but Columbus took the last meeting on March 1 with a 92-89 victory in Roanoke. Following Wednesday's contest, the Dragons will travel to Huntsville to face the Flight for a Friday night tip-off at the Von Braun Center before returning to Columbus on Saturday, April 2 to face Huntsville for the second straight night at the Columbus Civic Center. Tip-off for Saturday's home game is 7:00 p.m.. All games can be heard live on 1460-AM WHAL.

For additional information, please visit columbusriverdragons.com or contact Riverdragons Media Relations Manager Tim Becwar at (706) 225-1104 and tbecwar@nba.com. For additional information on the NBDL please visit NBDL.com.



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