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Mustangs Win Again to Earn Fifth Straight

December 23, 2008 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Southeast Texas Mavericks News Release


The Southeast Texas Mustangs (6-1-#4 in the Nation) won their 5th straight game on Monday night by once again out battling the Mississippi Blues (1-4) and claiming a 99-92 victory.

It was the 3rd straight time that the Mustangs and Blues have battled in the last week. Southeast Texas won all three games, but this game was by far the most competitive with the teams exchanging several leads in the final ten minutes of the game. DeRon Rutledge's rebound and put back put the Mustangs clear for good as they again pulled away down the stretch to earn another victory over the Blues.

The Mustangs and Blues started out quickly in the first period with both teams having a hot hand. Jarrell Jones, Rod Smith, and Sandrell Spann were effective both inside and outside for the Blues. Tim Pledger, Currye Todd, and veteran big man Johnny Tyson led the Mustangs on a 10-1 run to end the first quarter and Southeast Texas led after one period 27-16.

In the second period, once again the Blues battled from behind and played well. They kept constant pressure on the Mustangs and won the period by six points to go in down by 5 at the half 47-42.

The Mustangs came out ready to play to open up the 3rd quarter with spirited play from DeRon Rutledge. Rutledge scored 12 points in the 3rd, but again the Blues would not go away. Southeast Texas took a 3 point lead into the 4th quarter leading 69-66.

Heading into the 4th quarter the Blues kept the pressure on the Mustangs and when Ernest Hassell hit a three pointer with 9:52 to play the Blues claimed their first lead of the game 73-71. The lead changed hands several times after that. But the Mustangs again answered the call as Pledger and Anthony Lumpkin led a Mustangs surge to put them back up by 4 points with just less than four minutes to play in the game. The inside tandem of Rutledge and Jamaal Davis took over the game as the two frontline players hit big inside shots to give the Mustangs control of the game heading down the stretch. The Mustangs hit key free-throws by Rutledge, Pledger, Todd, and Davis to pull away and claim another victory over the Blues.

Southeast Texas again placed six players in double figures with Rutledge leading the way with 21 points (16 in the second half). Todd again played brilliantly with 16 points. Davis and Harris put in 12 apiece for the Mustangs, while Lumpkin and Pledger chipped in 11 and 10 points respectively. The Mississippi Blues were led by Jone's 17 points. Smith and Hassell scored 16 and 14 points.

The Mustangs will now take off for three days for the Christmas Break, but will return to practice on December 26th as they prepare to take on Texas City on the road on December 28th and on January 3rd. The Mustangs will return to Ford Arena on January 4th as they host the Houston Takers. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 PM.

The Mustangs are currently ranked 4th in the nation in the ABA Power Rankings, but with the #1 team in the Power Rankings, the Nashville Broncs losing this week to the Kentucky Bisons and with the Mustangs being one of the hottest teams with five consecutive wins, the Southeast Texas Mustangs are sure to move up the ABA's Power Ranking Poll.

Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.



American Basketball Association Stories from December 23, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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