Mitchell Explodes Late to Lead Ants to Huge Win
March 2, 2013 - NBA G League (G League)
Indiana Mad Ants News Release
FORT WAYNE, IN -The Fort Wayne Mad Ants demonstrated tremendous heart and resolve as they earned a double-overtime victory, 119-110, Friday night at the Allen War Memorial Coliseum over the Springfield Armor.
The action started to heat up at the end of the fourth quarter with the Armor up six points with two minutes left to play in regulation. That is where Tony Mitchell took over. To that point in the game, Mitchell had just three points -- all on free throws -- and had played sparingly due to foul trouble. However, where some players may have faded to the background, Mitchell took his team and put it on his shoulders. Mitchell got started getting the Ants back in the game with runner across the middle to close the game to four. Mitchell then blocked Kris Joseph's shot attempt at the other end, and that led to a Brandon Wallace dunk off a nice Sadiel Rojas feed to make the score 101-99. Willie Reed pushed the lead back to four on a vicious tip dunk, but the Ants would not be denied. After a Mitchell miss, he stole the ball on the defensive end from Tornike Shengalia and was fouled taking it to the hoop. He calmly sank two free throws to put the Ants within two, 103-101 with 33.3 seconds to go. After a Ben Uzoh miss, Sadiel Rojas grabbed his tenth board of the game, and the Ants went on the attack. Rojas fed Mitchell for an open jumper that missed, but Brandon Wallace was able to make a miraculous put back to push the game to overtime.
In the first overtime, it looked like the Armor were going to get out of Fort Wayne with the win. But, yet again, Tony Mitchell came to the rescue. He went to the hole and was fouled by Joseph with 4.0 seconds left in the game. Mitchell calmly sank two clutch free throws, and the game went into the second overtime.
The second overtime was all Tony Mitchell. He quickly pushed the Ants out to the lead with a deep three. After two Shengelia free throws, Mitchell hit another three out of a time out on a Rojas feed to push the Ants up five. Finally, Mitchell hit the dagger shot when he pumped in his third straight three to give the Ants an eight point lead. Mitchell hit a layup and a free throw for good measure to score all twelve Ants points in overtime and give the home team and an excited home crowd the 119-110 victory.
Mitchell ended the game up with 23 points and scored 20 of those points in the last eight minutes of game action. Ron Howard -- who was saddled by foul trouble much of the second half -- still was able to score 27 points in just 23 minutes of play. The big man of the Ants were phenomenal, as Chris Porter had 17 points and 11 rebounds in his first start, and Brandon Wallace continued his fine play with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks.
For the Armor, Kris Joseph put on a show with 29 spectacular points, and Tornike Shengelia contributed 21 and grabbed 10 rebounds in the loss.
The Mad Ants are back in action tomorrow night against the Idaho Stampede at 7:30 pm at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.
NBA G League Stories from March 2, 2013
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- Bighorns Drop Close Game in Texas - Reno Bighorns
- Idaho Falls to Fort Wayne - Idaho Stampede
- Cavaliers Assign Kevin Jones to Charge - Cleveland Charge
- Cleveland Cavaliers Re-Assign Kevin Jones to NBA D-League Affiliate Canton Charge - G League
- Santa Cruz Warriors Fall to Hot-Shooting Vipers - Santa Cruz Warriors
- Mitchell Explodes Late to Lead Ants to Huge Win - Indiana Mad Ants
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