Lucas Leads Patriots over Riverdragons, 90-88
December 5, 2003 - NBA G League (G League)
Fayetteville Patriots News Release
It's starting to become a habit. But it's a bad habit if you ask Fayetteville Patriots coach Jeff Capel. Led by 20 points and six rebounds from Bryan Lucas, the Patriots improved to 3-2 with a 90-88 win over the Columbus Riverdragons on Saturday at the Crown Coliseum.
In all three Patriots wins this season, they have had to rally from double-digit deficits. In two out of their three wins, they trailed going into the fourth quarter.
"I don't know what to do with the way we start games,'' Capel said. "We're constantly fighting up hill and I frankly think it's a matter of concentration and focus. We lose concentration on offense, make soft passes and that leads to turnovers. We lose concentration on defense and that gives the other team good looks and offensive rebounds."
The Patriots trailed by 12 at the half on Saturday. They trailed the Riverdragons by as many as 14 on Wednesday. The Patriots first half on Saturday consisted of 12 turnovers and 40 percent shooting from the field. The Patriots cut the Riverdragons lead to seven entering the fourth quarter.
That's when the Patriots turned to what has been their strong point all season â the post. Jason Collier, Britton Johnson and Darrell Johns are 6-foot-10 and taller and all began to dominate in the fourth quarter. They scored six points each in the fourth quarter on 9-for-13 shooting.
"I don't know how to explain our slow starts,'' said Johns who finished with nine points off the bench. "It's hard to pinpoint. I just guess it's good we have the ability to come back, but I'd rather not be down."
Jason Collier tied the score at 88 with 1:16 remaining in the fourth quarter. Ezra Williams then committed Columbus' 17th turnover of the night as Omar Cook stripped him of the basketball. After a Patriots miss, Patriots guard Kent Williams then stripped Sean Peterson of the basketball and called time out, leaving the Patriots with 9.6 seconds to win the game.
It appeared the Riverdragons were not going to let the Patriots get a shot off. But Williams forced contact from Derrick Zimmerman with 0.6 seconds remaining and went to the line and nailed two free throws for the win.
"We have guys who are talented, but they play soft at times,'' Columbus coach Jeff Malone said. "You have to make plays. You have to be mentally tough. You can't be timid in crunch time."
Erron Maxey, who finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds, led the Riverdragons. Kevin Lyde added 16 points and eight rebounds as the Riverdragons lost their sixth straight game to the Patriots and dropped to 0-5 on the season.
Columbus will head to Charleston to play on Sunday as it continues its five-game road trip. Omar Cook finished with 12 points and 13 assists, while Collier added 18 points and nine rebounds. The Patriots play today at 7:30 p.m., against the Huntsville Flight at home.
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