Hamilton paces Patriots to 88-80 victory
Published on January 16, 2005 under NBA G League (G League) News Release
COLUMBUS, Ga., January 16 â When Tang Hamilton played for the Columbus Riverdragons two seasons ago he led the National Basketball Development League with 25 double-doubles. Hamilton returned to the Columbus Civic Center on Sunday and picked up right where he left off, except this time his 14 points and 11 rebounds helped lead the Fayetteville Patriots to an 88-80 victory over the Florida Flame in the first game of the NBDL Martin Luther King, Jr. Showcase.
The victory was the second straight for the Patriots, who improved to 5-16, crawled out of the NBDL cellar and won consecutive games for the first time this season. Florida lost its fifth straight game and dropped to 3-15, last place in the league.
Fayetteville plays Asheville Monday at 11 a.m. ET in the final day of the Showcase. Florida meets Roanoke at 2 p.m.
With Fayetteville leading by five points midway through the fourth quarter, Florida began inching its way back into the game. A Kirk Haston jumper with 5:12 to play cut the Patriots' lead to 71-70. Ruben Boumtje Boumtje's layup with 3:45 left stretched the Fayetteville lead back to five, but Florida refused to go away, pulling back to within a point at 81-80 on a layup by Smush Parker.
"We showed a lot of poise. We were able to execute down the stretch and not panic," Fayetteville head coach Mike Brown said. ""The guys understand that we are coming together as a team, and it's exciting to see them grow as a unit and feel good about themselves."
Following a Mike King jumper to extend the Fayetteville lead to three points, Hamilton went to work to ice the game away, sending home a monster dunk with 14 seconds left and hitting a free throw with 11.7 to play. King's two free throws with seven seconds to play accounted for the final margin.
"Down the stretch we just didn't execute," Florida head coach Dennis Johnson said. "We came over and drew up two or three plays, and then just didn't get it done."
David Young scored 16 points to lead the Patriots, followed by Ernest Brown with 12. Jon Smith and King chipped in 10 each. Omar Cook dished out 10 assists.
Haston had 16 to pace the Flame, followed by Carl English with 14 points. Hiram Fuller had 12 points and 14 rebounds. Parker chipped in 11 points and Darius Rice 10 to round out Florida scoring.
NBA G League Stories from January 16, 2005
- Altitude Knock Off Riverdragons In MLK Showcase - Columbus Riverdragons
- Asheville's Knight Earns GATORADE Call-up - G League
- Hamilton paces Patriots to 88-80 victory - G League
- NBDL daily developments - G League
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