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RimRockers earn spot in title game

March 19, 2005 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Arkansas RimRockers News Release


Mississippi's veteran coach, Andy Stoglin, was going to do everything possible to gain an advantage in his team's American Basketball Association semifinal playoff game against Arkansas, so he got creative.

"I called three professional scouts this week," Stoglin said. "I was trying to get them to give Todd [Day] a 10-day contract and come get him before this week. I honestly did that. He's ready to be back in the NBA.

"And Kareem Reid, to me — and I've been coaching for almost 40 years — I've never seen a player harder to guard than Kareem Reid. He can play in the NBA. I told [the scouts] come get them, and at least try them out for this week so they won't be here."

It turns out Stoglin's plan was about the only way Mississippi was going to beat the RimRockers on Friday night.

Day and Reid combined for 65 points as No. 2-seeded Arkansas beat No. 3 seed Mississippi 117-105 in front of 7,444 at Alltel Arena in a matchup between the two highest remaining seeds.

Arkansas (31-5) will face the winner of the Maryland-Bellevue (Wash.) semifinal on March 26 at Alltel Arena for the ABA championship.

Reid had his game of the season, with 30 points, 20 assists and only 2 turnovers in 45 minutes, and Day scored 35 points and also played 45 minutes.

"Those two guys make the team," Stoglin said. "You can put average players with them — and Arkansas has good players — but you can put average players and they'll have a chance. Those two are really, really, really, playing well."

So is Arkansas.

The RimRockers shot 53.2 percent from the floor and put the game away with a 10-1 run at the start of the fourth quarter.

Chris Sykes, who led Mississippi (22-4) with 25 points, scored on a tip-in on the first possession of the fourth quarter to put Mississippi up 82-81. Arkansas then scored 10 of the next 11 points, the last four on backto-back fast-break layups from Daryan Selvy, to take a 91-83 lead with 7:33 left in the game.

Day's three-pointer with 3:43 left put Arkansas up 101-89 and all but sent the RimRockers to the title game.

"The first half we came out a little tight, because we knew it was a big game, but the tougher the task the tougher this team gets," Day said. "Once we got up we knew we could extend the lead. When we get up we smell blood and go for broke."

Three of the Stingers' four losses this season have been to Arkansas, but Mississippi led most of the first half thanks to some very physical play.

But Reid's running one-hander from half-court at the first-half buzzer cut the Stingers' halftime lead to 57-52, and the RimRockers kept the momentum going into the third quarter.

Shawnson Johnson started the quarter with a dunk, and after a Mississippi air ball Reid drove the length of the court for a layup.

Johnson's tip-in at 10:45 gave Arkansas a 58-57 lead, its first since 5-2.

"It was a heavyweight fight," Arkansas Coach Joe Harge said. "It was exactly what it was supposed to be. We probably had some jitters early, and it turned out to be just a terrific basketball game."

Arkansas outscored Mississippi 36-25 in the fourth quarter to turn what had been a close game throughout into a comfortable glide into the ABA championship game.

"Once we took the lead it was over," Reid said. "Once we get the lead teams get discouraged. They're jumping around highfiving, and next thing they're losing. We're a veteran team and it shows.

"The team with the most youknow-what won tonight."

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.

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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.

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