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Nighthawks cruise past Express, 118-103

January 14, 2007 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Maryland NightHawks News Release


Rockville, MD - The Maryland Nighthawks built a lead that was impossible to blow.

Hugh "Baby Shaq" Jones scored 18 points and Warren Jefferson added 16 as the Nighthawks beat the Newark Express 118-103 on Sunday night.

The Nighthawks had their easiest victory of the season despite playing without starting point guard Anton Jenifer. Jenifer is recovering from tooth surgery and missed his second straight game. He is listed as day-to-day

Eric Branham connected on three of four three pointers and finishing with 13 points, and Curtis Yarbrough scored a season high 13 points in 25 minutes of action off the bench for the Nighthawks, who reached the .500 mark since December 22 of last year.

The Nighthawks took control early against the Express, who own the worst record in the league and were coming off a loss to the Strong Island Sound on Saturday. Maryland outscored Newark 20-9 to close the first quarter, turning 14-14 tie into a 34-25 advantage. Warren Jefferson had consecutive three pointers in this span

Sekani Francis had a game high 26 points and 14 rebounds for Newark and Jernavis Draughn added 21 points.

Maryland continued to pour it on, outscoring the Express 6-0 to start the second quarter. Curtis Yarbrough's three pointer gave Maryland a 40-25 lead with 10:39 left in the quarter, and Barry Mitchell's 19 foot jumper later in the period made it 64-39.

Hugh "Baby Shaq" Jones scored 12 points in the half and Dennis Edwards added 11 points, helping Maryland take a 64-47 halftime lead.

Barry Mitchell gave Maryland a 107-83 bulge midway through the fourth quarter. Andrew "Spongebob" Washington, who was recently named to the ABA All-Star game, sat out the entire second half.

The Nighthawks will play their third game in as many days when they play the Newark Express once again, Monday afternoon at 1:05 pm.

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 January 14, 2007


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