Patriots winning streak extends to six
December 21, 2002 - NBA G League (G League)
Fayetteville Patriots News Release
Omar Cook hasn't quite found his rhythm offensively this season. It doesn't mean the other aspects of his game can't be utilized to help the Fayetteville Patriots. On Saturday, in front of an NBDL-record crowd of 4,655 fans at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, Cook recorded seven steals and had two huge assists to lead the Patriots to a 77-66 win over the Mobile Revelers.
The win gave the Patriots their sixth straight victory and improved the Patriots to 9-6. The win also puts Fayetteville in a first-place tie with the Greenville Groove. Jason Capel led the Patriots with 14 points, and Terrell McIntyre chipped in with 13.
"I know coaches say this all the time, but we are really playing like a team,'' Patriots coach Jeff Capel said. "That description fits this team. I don't like to call things streaks because when you say something's a string that means it has to end at some point. No, what Omar did tonight was just a part of what I thought was a great team effort."
Cook's numbers included just eight points, two assists and one rebound. It was his defense that did the damage. Cook's first big theft came with a little more than three minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Revelers had just moved to within two at 48-46 and Cook then gave the Revelers a chance to tie the game when he turned the ball with 3:10 remaining in the quarter.
But Cook immediately atoned for his mistake by stripping Isaac Fontaine has he brought the ball up the floor. The steal led to a Cook dunk that sparked a 12-5 Patriots run to end the quarter. During the run, Cook intercepted a Joe Marshall pass and tossed a pass down the floor to Matt Barnes for a dunk.
"I always pride myself on being a pretty good defender,'' said Cook, who fell one steal shy of tying the NBDL record. "My shot hasn't been falling down lately, but that doesn't give me an excuse not to play defense. If that's what I can contribute to this team then that's what I'm going to contribute. Those steals helped put the game away."
The steals Cook is referred to helped the Patriots end the game on an 11-2 run. With the Patriots leading 68-64, Cook's interception of a Bobby Simmons pass led to a 3-point play by Devin Brown. Cook's next steal led to a Jason Capel layup Cook assisted.
His third straight steal came at the expense of Eugene Edgerson. It led to another Capel layup, and put the Patriots up 75-64..
"He's such a great on-the-ball defender,'' Jeff Capel said. "He made so many huge plays for us tonight and that's what he can give you with his defense."
Bobby Simmons and Shea Seals had 14 points apiece to lead the Revelers, who dropped to 6-7. What might have contributed to Cook's outstanding defensive night is the absence of Sean Colson, who was released because of an injury.
"We had to make Isaac Fontaine play a lot of point guard and he's not a true point guard,'' Revelers coach Sam Vincent said. "Next week we're probably going to bring in a point guard and think you're going to see how much that helps this team. We're not ready to panic."
Before the Patriots played the Revelers, the Campbell Fighting Camels played the East Carolina Pirates in the first of a doubleheader played at the Crown Saturday. The Pirates beat the Camels, 86-61.
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NBA G League Stories from December 21, 2002
- Groove Win Another Close Game - Greenville Groove
- Flight Falls To Asheville 78-71 Saturday night - Huntsville Flight
- Patriots winning streak extends to six - Fayetteville Patriots
- North Charleston Beats Roanoke - Roanoke Dazzle
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