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Late Dazzle Run Devours Dragons, 88-82

February 7, 2005 - NBA G League (G League)
Columbus Riverdragons News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga.— Cory Alexander tallied a game-high 24 points, including eight in the final 2:24 of the game, leading the Roanoke Dazzle to an 88-82 comeback win over the Columbus Riverdragons on Monday night at the Columbus Civic Center. Alexander's onslaught led Roanoke on an 11-0 game-ending run that gave the Dazzle (16-10) their third win in the last four games overall. Columbus (18-9) had its three-game win streak snapped and lost for the fifth straight time at home.

Roanoke led by two, 38-36, at halftime after both squads struggled offensively in the first half. The Dazzle hit just 36% of their field goals in the first half, while the Dragons shot 34% from the floor.

The Dazzle took control early in the third quarter. Following a Derrick Zimmerman lay-up with 9:15 left in the period that tied the game at 40 apiece, Roanoke found its groove with an 18-6 run over the next 5:50 to forge ahead, 58-46, with 2:25 left in the third. Alexander contributed five points in the run, while James Thomas and Kevin Owens notched four apiece to give the Dazzle a twelve-point advantage.

The Riverdragons, needing a response, got it over the final two-and-a-half minutes of the quarter with a 14-7 spurt that pulled Columbus within five, at 65-60, heading into the fourth period. A Kevin Braswell lay-in got the run going and was followed by a Zimmerman lay-up, Reed Rawlings trey, and LeRoy Hurd three-ball to bring the Dragons back within range.

Columbus continued its roll into the fourth quarter. Down four points, at 73-69, with 7:39 left, the Riverdragons found their offense with a 9-0 run over the next 3:40 to gain a five-point advantage at 78-73 with 3:59 left. Lay-ups from Mike Benton, Curry, and Zimmerman keyed the rally as Columbus forced three Roanoke turnovers to take the lead.

Alexander would be the difference down the stretch for the Dazzle. Down 82-77 after a Hurd 22-foot jumper with 2:50 on the clock, the NBA veteran and former Virginia Cavalier answered with a three-pointer from the top to pull Roanoke within two at 82-80 with 2:26 left. Following a Columbus miss on the ensuing possession, Matt Carroll hit his second three of the game, giving the Dazzle an 83-82 edge with 1:56 remaining. The Dragons again came up empty on the offensive end and Alexander scored a lay-up and drained a high-arching three-pointer from the left wing with the shot clock running down and 34.9 to go that sealed the Dragons fate and gave Roanoke its final margin at 88-82.

Roanoke had all five starters in double figures. Along with Alexander's 24 points, Thomas barely missed his eleventh double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds. Carroll posted 13 points, Terrence Shannon notched 12 points and Kevin Owens earned his third double-double of the season with 11 points and 16 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end.

The Riverdragons had a total of three players in double figures. Zimmerman posted a team-high and season-high with 18 points on 8-12 shooting from the field. Rawlings tallied 14 points and seven rebounds, while Mike Benton notched his second double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The Riverdragons return to action on the road this Thursday, February 10, as they travel to take on the Fayetteville Patriots at the Crown Coliseum. Tip-off is 7:30 p.m.. The Dazzle will return to action on Wednesday, February 9 as they host the Florida Flame at the Roanoke Civic Center. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.. For more information, log onto nbdl.com.



NBA G League Stories from February 7, 2005


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