Lang, Fesenko Pace Flash Win to Open Showcase
January 14, 2008 - NBA G League (G League)
Utah Flash News Release
BOISE, Idaho, Jan. 14, 2008 - James Lang and Kyrylo Fesenko combined for 36 points and seven Utah players scored in double figures as the Flash defeated the Bakersfield Jam, 102-80, to open the 2008 NBA Development League Showcase Monday at Qwest Arena.
Lang finished with 19 and Fesenko, who is on assignment from the Utah Jazz and had 17 points, teamed up to convert 15-of-20 field goal attempts. The Flash made 54-percent (42-77) from the floor while improving to 11-8. Utah limited Bakersfield, 3-20, to just 39-percent (28-71) from the field.
"James Lang has been in and out of the NBA so he obviously has the skills set to be an NBA player and Fesenko is raw, but golly to be 7-1 and 285 pounds, he runs like a deer and the thing I really like about him is he has good hands and he goes and gets the ball," Flash head coach Brad Jones said. "The good thing about those guys, although they each had big games, is they're great passers as well,"
"That was a great team victory, hopefully we will continue to development that mentality," Jones said after watching his team record a season-best 32 assists. "It's a beautiful thing when we come out and play together, play team ball within the system."
After a back-and-forth first quarter, Utah limited the Jam to just 13 second-quarter points and went to the half with a 44-33 advantage. The Flash outscored Bakersfield 68-47 the rest of the way won the rebounding battle 53-31.
Brain Hamilton contributed 14 points for the Flash, followed by John Millsap with 12 and Andre Ingram with 11. Brian Jackson and Kevin Kruger had 10 apiece. Kruger had nine assists.
Michael Cuffee scored 20 points to lead the Jam in his first action against Utah since being traded by the Flash to Bakersfield on Jan. 10. Anthony Wilkins scored 14 and James Peters chipped in 12. Andre Barrett and Jovan Harris both scored 11 for the Jam. Barrett dished out 11 assists.
"In the last year and a half, I've been looking to get back into coaching, back on the bench. I've been coaching in the NBA and I wanted to gain head coaching experience," Jam head coach Scott Roth said following his second game since being named head coach at Bakersfield. "I saw a franchise that was in need and the owners basically turned the keys over to me to do whatever I had to do to turn it around, and that's what I've been doing over the last two days.
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