Nine in a row is divine for Idaho

January 12, 2008 - NBA G League (G League)
Idaho Stampede News Release


BOISE, Idaho - The Idaho Stampede, wearing Portland jerseys on Trail Blazers Affiliate Night, utilized two double doubles from Lance Allred and Randy Livingston to defeat the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, who sported Detroit Pistons gear, 97-92 Saturday in Boise.

Allred scored 18 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, while Livingston shot 6-for-9 from the field for 17 points and dished out 14 assists. The victory extends Idaho's overall winning streak to nine games, while keeping them undefeated at 10-0 at home this season.

The Stampede started the first quarter in their usual fashion, shooting 14-for-20 from the field while holding Fort Wayne to 45%. Allred contributed 12 points, and Ernest Scott shot 4-for-4 including three three-pointers, scoring 11 points, as Idaho took advantage of a 15-10 run to finish the quarter up 35-21.

"We had a balanced attack tonight," said Stampede Head Coach Bryan Gates. "When one guy is not shooting well, our strength is that other players will step up and pick up the slack."

Sammy Mejia helped the Mad Ants chip away at Idaho's lead through the second and third quarters, scoring 15 of his game-high 23 points in the two periods, though the Stampede still held a 76-69 lead. Mejia also finished with a game-high 14 rebounds.

The Mad Ants went on a bit of a run of their own to start the fourth quarter, and after two Corey Minnifield jump shots, a foul by Idaho's Cory Violette, and two Roderick Wilmont free throws, Fort Wayne took their first lead of the game with 5:47 left at 82-81 since leading to start off the contest 4-2. In Idaho's next possession, Livingston drained a three-pointer to put them back up two, which was answered by a Wilmont three-pointer to put Fort Wayne back on top at 85-84 with 4:16 left. The Stampede then went on a 8-0 run on free throws alone after costly fouls hurt the Mad Ants, and held on for the victory.

Including Mejia, the Mad Ants finished with four players with double digit scoring. Minnifield finished with 20 points, while Wilmont and Walker Russell each pitched in 12 points off the bench.

Idaho finished the game shooting 51.5% from the field, making 35 field goals on 29 assists in the contest. Along with Allred and Livingston, the Stampede had four total players with double figures. Scott had a team-high 19 points, while Violette finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. Mouhamed Sene, on assignment from the Seattle SuperSonics, pulled down 11 rebounds to go along with his seven points.

Both teams will stay in Boise for the 2008 NBA D-League Showcase, which is set to tip off on Monday and runs through Thursday. Each team in the league will play two regular season games over the four days in front of NBA general managers, player personnel directors and scouts. Fort Wayne plays the Los Angeles D-Fenders, while Idaho battles the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, both on Tuesday, before playing each other again on Thursday at 7:15 p.m.



NBA G League Stories from January 12, 2008


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