Huntsville newcomer beats Columbus at Buzzer
March 20, 2005 - NBA G League (G League)
Huntsville Flight News Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. â Huntsville forward Bryant Matthews put in a lay-up with less than one second left in the game, giving the Flight a 96-94 win over the Columbus Riverdragons in National Basketball Development League action at the Von Braun Center. With the game tied 94-94, Huntsville's Cedric Henderson missed a 21-foot jump shot. Matthews grabbed the rebound and quickly threw the ball off the backboard, and it dropped through just as the final horn sounded.
Matthews, who was acquired from the NBDL available player pool this afternoon, joined his team for the first time during the pre-game shoot-around.
Huntsville's Austin Nichols made a pair of free-throws to give the Flight (21-18) a 94-91 lead with 10 seconds left. After a 20-second timeout, the Riverdragons set up Reed Rawlings at the top of the three-point arc. Rawlings knocked down the shot, tying the game, and setting up the frantic finish.
The game was tight throughout, as neither team could manage a lead larger than Huntsville's seven-point margin. Overall, there were nine lead changes and 12 ties.
Huntsville held a 45-40 lead at the half, but Columbus (25-15) outscored the Flight 26-20 in the third quarter for a 66-65 lead. After LeRoy Hurd's two free-throws gave Columbus a 72-67 lead with 9:35 left, the Flight went on a 7-2 run to tie it again. The teams then traded baskets down the stretch.
Matthews, a 6-7,215-pound Virginia Tech product, was signed to take the roster spot vacated when Damone Brown received a "Gatorade Call-up" to the NBA's Washington Wizards.
Rawlings led all scorers with 26 points. Ramel Curry had 14 points, and Hurd chipped in 13 points off the Columbus bench.
Rodney Bias continued to terrorize the Dragons, finishing with 20 points and 18 rebounds. Henderson had 22 to lead the Flight, and Austin Nichols scored 15.
The win was the Flight's third straight overall, and their 14th in the last 17 meetings with the Dragons. Huntsville remains in fourth place in the NBDL, and the Flight's magic number to claim a playoff spot now stands at three. Any combination of Huntsville wins and Fayetteville losses equaling three will put the Flight in the postseason. Columbus remains in first place, thanks to Fayetteville's win over Roanoke.
Up next for the Flight is a pair of games this Tuesday and Thursday at Florida. The Riverdragons travel to Asheville for a meeting with the third-place Altitude on Friday.
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