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Johnson Leads Riverdragons over Lowgators

January 17, 2003 - NBA G League (G League)
Columbus Riverdragons News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga., (Jan. 17) - Nate Johnson had a game-high 31 points including a lay-up off a nice feed from Tang Hamilton with 2.4 seconds remaining to give the Riverdragons a 88-86 win over the N.Charleston Lowgators at the Columbus Civic Center Friday night in NBDL action.

The win capped the Riverdragons first three-game win-streak at the Civic Center this season.

"I want to win everywhere," said Riverdragons head coach Jeff Malone. "But it's real important to me - and I stress it to these guys - to win in this building. I really like to win here because of the struggles we've had at home in the past."

The Riverdragons began the season dropping seven of their first ten games at home.

N. Charleston point guard Tierre Brown converted a three-point play on a lay-up as he was fouled by Hamilton with 7.3 seconds to play. Brown's free throw tied the score at 86-86 to set up Johnson game-winning shot.

"Corey Benjamin went for the steal," said Johnson. "It was wide open to the line and I was surprised they didn't foul me. I went in and got the lay-up and we won."

Johnson posted his third 30-point performance of the year - his first in regulation - as the Riverdragons (12-13) notched their fourth straight victory over the Lowgators (13-12).

The game's final play was a fitting way for Johnson and Hamilton to close their evening. The Riverdragons leading scorer and leading rebounder respectively, combined for 57 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists. Hamilton posted a season-high tying 26 points along with five rebounds and a season-high five assists.

The Riverdragons, lead by Nate Green and his game-high 8 assists, moved the ball well on the way to distributing an NBDL record 31 assists. The Riverdragons are the first NBDL team in league history to log 30 assists in one game.

The Riverdragons victory overshadowed another tremednous performance from Lowgators small forward Corey Benjamin. The league's second leading scorer behind Nate Johnson, Benjamin had a team-high 28 points and eight rebounds.

Tierre Brown finished with 23 points and seven assists, posting 10 points in the final quarter alone.

The Riverdragons have several opportunities to continue their recent good fortune at home, playing four their next five games in Columbus. The Riverdragons host Huntsville Monday afternoon at 2 p.m. The Lowgators also play Monday, facing the Revelers in Mobile.

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