Patriots Outlast Altitude
January 20, 2003 - NBA G League (G League)
Fayetteville Patriots News Release
The Fayetteville Patriots fourth quarter performance wasn't a problem solver, but it got the job done. Behind 29 points from Devin Brown, the Patriots snapped their three-game losing streak with a 76-72 win over the Asheville Altitude.
The win improves the Patriots to 15-11 and it keeps them in first place. The Altitude drops to 10-17 and loses its final two games played at the Crown Coliseum this season. The Patriots improved to 5-4 against the Altitude despite another poor fourth quarter shooting performance.
Coming into Monday afternoon's game, the Patriots were shooting 37 percent in the fourth quarter in their last three games. What made worst was that Patriots opponents were shooting 67 percent in the fourth quarter over the same span.
The Patriots shot 28 percent in the fourth quarter Monday, but Asheville's 27.3 percent shooting performance helped the Patriots stay in the game. Devin's Brown 13-foot jump shot with 8.7 seconds remaining gave the Patriots a two-point advantage at 74-72. Asheville's newly acquired Brandon Kurtz would then dribble the ball off his foot on Asheville's ensuing possession with 3.8 seconds remaining.
After a Patriots timeout, off the inbound pass, Jason Capel found a wide-open Bryan Lucas underneath the basket for an easy game-clinching layup. Lucas, the team's leading field goal shooter finished with. Jason Capel was the only other Patriot in double figures. He finished with 11 points and three assists, while Jameel Watkins added 11 boards for the Patriots.
"We didn't shoot that well with the exception of Devin and Bryan and they did it in spurts,'' said Patriots assistant coach Sam Worthen. "We capitalized on (not shooting well) by minimizing our turnovers, going to free throw line and offensive rebounds.
"This might be the only game where we had more offensive rebounds than defensive. Offensive helped us because with us not shooting well, we would get second and third chances."
Worthen coached Monday afternoon's game because head coach Jeff Capel had rotator cuff surgery Monday morning. Capel should return to the sideline on Friday when the Patriots host North Charleston.
The Altitude was led by Jeff Trepangier's 24 points on 4-for-9 shooting from 3-point range.
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