NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Overtime Run Leads Flame to 109-103 Win At Columbus

March 10, 2005 - NBA G League (G League)
Columbus Riverdragons News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga.— Smush Parker scored a team-high and game-high-tying 21 points and the Florida Flame scored the first nine points of overtime to earn a 109-103 victory over the Columbus Riverdragons at the Columbus Civic Center on Thursday night. The win was the Flame’s first in an extra session contest this season and Florida’s second over Columbus head-to-head.

Florida (10-26) won it second straight; just the third time the Flame have claimed a two-game winning streak this season. The last two Florida victories, however, have come against the NBDLÂ’s top two teams, Roanoke and Columbus. With the loss, the Dragons (22-13) dropped a full game behind the Dazzle (24-13) for first place in the NBDL standings with 13 games to play in the regular season.

Columbus seemingly had all the momentum entering overtime after Reed Rawlings hit a running leaner with 19.9 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 99 apiece that sent it to the extra session. But the Flame exploded out of the gates with a 9-0 run over the first 3:16 to claim a commanding 108-99 advantage. Florida would receive all of its points on easy baskets getting lay-ups from Hiram Fuller, Carl English along with a lay-in and slam from Kirk Haston to cap off the spurt. The Dragons offense went cold as well, as Columbus hit just two of eight shots in the extra period to fall to 2-2 in overtime games on the year.

The Flame started strong in the first quarter, taking a 29-21 lead after one period. The inside tandem of Haston and Fuller combined for 12 points in the period on 4-8 shooting from the field and Florida capitalized on six Riverdragons turnovers to grab the early advantage. The Flame also took advantage of early Columbus foul trouble to get to the foul line consistently. Overall, Florida reached the foul line 13 times, hitting 11 free throws, while the Dragons only attempted three foul shots in the period.

The Flame lead reached 11, at 41-30, on a Tim Pickett jumper with 6:47 remaining in the first half, but the Riverdragons ended the second quarter with 24-17 scoring advantage over the final six and a half minutes to close within four, 58-54, heading into halftime. Parker erupted for 12 points in the period on 5-6 shooting to lead the way for Florida. Rawlings kept the Dragons close, hitting for 13 points in the quarter on 5-8 shooting.

After trailing by as many as eight points in the third quarter, the Riverdragons went to Ramel Curry, whose eight points from three jumpers and a lay-in propelled Columbus to a 16-6 run and a 72-70 lead with 5:26 left in the period. But Florida responded as Pickett and Parker combined for seven points and the Flame ended the quarter on an 11-5 spurt to claim an 81-77 advantage heading to the fourth.

After trading baskets and trading leads to begin the fourth quarter, things heated up as Rawlings hit a three-pointer from the top to give the Dragons a 95-94 lead with 2:33 to go. But Marcus Moore responded with a driving lay-in at the 2:07 mark to give the Flame the lead right back. Scott MerrittÂ’s short jumper in the lane with 44.9 seconds remaining gave Columbus its last lead, at 97-96 but Moore answered again, hitting a three-ball from the corner with 31.9 left that pushed Florida back in front at 99-97. That set the stage for Rawlings who drove the left side of the paint and hit a tough leaner on Fuller to help send the game to overtime.

The Flame finished with six players in double figures. Along with ParkerÂ’s 21 points, Hiram Fuller continued his strong play against Columbus, earning his league-best eighteenth double-double with 17 points and a team-high 11 rebounds for Florida. Haston tallied 13 points, while Pickett and Byron Mouton added 11 points apiece in the victory. Columbus also finished with six players in double figures. Along with RawlingsÂ’ 21 points, Curry posted 19, and Merritt finished with his team-leading fourth double-double of the season with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Derrick Zimmerman continued his strong play with his first double-double of the season, hitting for 13 points and 12 assists, while grabbing four steals. LeRoy Hurd scored 12 points and Adam Harrington notched 10 points in the loss.

The second-place Riverdragons return to action on the road this Saturday, March 12, as they travel to take on the Fayetteville Patriots at the Crown Coliseum. Tip-off is 7:30 p.m.. Florida will continue its three-game road trip on Saturday, visiting the first-place Roanoke Dazzle at the Roanoke Civic Center at 7 p.m.. For more information, log onto nbdl.com.

• Discuss this story on the NBA G League message board...

NBA G League Stories from March 10, 2005


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.

OurSports Central