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Myers' Thirty-Three Points Keep Dragons Alive

April 2, 2004 - NBA G League (G League)
Columbus Riverdragons News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga.—Jeff Myers tied a team record with 33 points as the Columbus Riverdragons kept their slim playoff hopes alive in a 106-92 victory over the Roanoke Dazzle on Friday night at the Columbus Civic Center. Myers' 33 points equalled the Columbus record of 33 points posted by Nate Johnson on November 20, 2002 at North Charleston. Josh Asselin netted a double-double, tallying a team-high 22 points and 13 rebounds in defeat.

The Riverdragons (18-25) won their second straight game, making it four wins in the last five and eight in their last eleven overall to stay in the chase for the final berth in the 2004 NBDL-Delta Airlines Postseason Classic. Columbus now sits just two games behind fourth-place Roanoke (20-23) and one game behind fifth place Fayetteville (19-24) with three games to play. The loss was the seventh in a row for the Dazzle and their eighth in the last nine overall.

Roanoke controlled the tempo early, frustrating Columbus with a defense that limited the Dragons to 30 percent shooting (6-20) from the field in the first quarter. Down 7-6 with 8:58 left after a Courtney James lay-in, Roanoke came alive offensively. Two George Williams free throws followed by a Josh Asselin dunk, Marque Perry jumper, and Mike King running lay-up propelled the Dazzle on an 8-2 run over the next two minutes to give Roanoke a 14-8 advantage. An Asselin free throw would give the Dazzle another six-point lead at 18-12 with 3:15 to go, but the Dragons got back in it with a 11-6 run over the final 3:08 of the period to close the gap to just one, 24-23, heading into the second quarter. King and Asselin combined for 14 first-quarter points to lead the way for the Dazzle. Sedric Webber and Myers kept Columbus in it with 16 points combined for Columbus.

The Dragons ignited their offense to start the second period. Columbus opened up the quarter with 9-0 run that included four points from the newly acquired Reed Rawlings. The lead would grow to as much as 14 following a James three-point play that made it 45-31 with 4;30 to play in the first half. The Dazzle would forge their way back into it late in the quarter, led by Asselin, whose six points in a 14-6 Roanoke run brought the visitors within six at halftime with the Dragons lead being cut to 51-45. Myers led the way again for Columbus with eight second quarter points to run his halftime total to fifteen.

Columbus again would get the jump on Roanoke, opening the third quarter with a 5-2 spurt to take a 56-47 advantage. But the Dazzle responded with a 10-4 run over the next 2:40 to pull Roanoke within three at 60-57 following a Perry lay-in with 7:05 to play in the third period. That's as close as the Dazzle would get, as Columbus began to pull away for good over the final six minutes of the quarter. Myers scored seven straight points for Columbus over the next three minutes and the Dragons built their advantage to eight, at 75-67, after three quarters.

The Riverdragons put it away early in the fourth, outscoring Roanoke 13-6 over the first 3:37 of the period to up their lead to 88-73. Morris almost single-handedly stole the show with eight points in the spurt, helping Columbus up its margin to fifteen. Myers would tally six more points in the fourth quarter, the final three on a trey with 6:01 left that tied the Columbus scoring mark at 33 points.

Five players scored in double figures for Columbus. Along with Myers' contributions, Webber posted 19 points and nine rebounds. Kevin Lyde notched a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Morris had 15 points and nine rebounds. James earned his thirteenth double-double, tallying 13 points and ten rebounds.

Roanoke finished with a total of four players in double figures. King and Williams notched twelve points apiece, while Perry finished with a double-double total of ten points and twelve assists.

The Riverdragons return to action this Sunday, April 4 on the road against the Huntsville Flight at the Von Braun Center. Tip-off is set for 5:05 p.m. CST and 6:05 p.m. EST. Roanokee continues its road swing at Charleston on Sunday, with tip-off at 5:05 p.m. EST. For more information log onto nbdl.com.

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