McGruder, Skyforce Down BayHawks 105-91
February 19, 2016 - NBA G League (G League)
Sioux Falls Skyforce News Release
Sioux Falls, SD -- The Sioux Falls Skyforce (25-7) overcame a 15-point second half deficit to earn a 105-91 win over the Erie BayHawks (11-22) on Friday night. Sioux Falls is now 3-0 vs. Erie this season, winning by an average margin of 11 points per game. The Skyforce are now tied with the 2007-08 Idaho Stampede for the second best start through 32 games in NBA D-League history.
The Skyforce led by five points at the end of the first quarter, but Erie soon regained the lead, outscoring Sioux Falls by 16 points in the second quarter to take a 60-49 lead into the break. Tyler Harvey (26 points) scored 21 points coming off of the bench in the first half partnered with 14 points each from Melvin Ejim (15 points) and Keith Appling (24 points).
However, after trailing by as many as 15 points early in the third quarter, the Skyforce' defense helped them chip away at the lead and eventually run away with the game in the final period. The Bayhawks managed to score only 31 points in the final 24 minutes of play and were outscored 31-16 in the final quarter. Though they limited their turnovers, Erie made just nine of their 38 shot attempts in the second half.
Coming off of a career-high 31-point night against the Grand Rapids Drive on Wednesday, Rodney McGruder led Sioux Falls in scoring for the second straight game, recording 24 points along with seven assists and four rebounds. Bubu Palo followed closely behind with 22 points, and Keith Benson, who recorded the team's only double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Palo has now made 54 of his last 65 free throw attempts and is averaging over nine attempts per game during that span.
Jabril Trawick recorded 15 points coming off of the bench in the win for the Skyforce. He also boasts one of the team's best +- as Sioux Falls is +71 with him on the court in their last 13 games.
The Skyforce will look to continue their success against the BayHawks as they play one another in the second game of a back-to-back home series on Saturday night at the Sanford Pentagon.
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