RimRockers ground Flyers

March 20, 2006 - NBA G League (G League)
Arkansas RimRockers News Release


Little Rock, Arkansas March 20 - A late quarter push from the Arkansas RimRockers put the team in position to steal a victory from the first place Fort Worth Flyers. Led by Brian Jackson's 27 point effort, the RimRockers (22-20) defeated the Flyers (26-16) 108-102 and put themselves in contention for the 2006 NBA Development League Championship presented by Delta Air Lines.

"That Fort Worth team is tough," RimRockers Head Coach Andy Stoglin said. "Those guys don't back down and they sure know how to apply pressure down the stretch. They didn't give up tonight or make it easy for us, that is for sure."

The RimRockers won the season series with the Flyers 5-3, but tonight's ball game was not an easy win. The RimRockers started off the evening with an early lead, pulling ahead by as many as seven points before Keith Langford and the Fort Worth bench came flying back. By the end of the first quarter, Langford was in double digits with 10 points and the Flyers led the RimRockers 31-25.

By half-time, the score was 61-52 as the Flyers dominated much of the second quarter. Hot shooting from the Flyers forced the RimRockers to trail the entire quarter although they managed to pull within one point on a Kareem Reid to Marty Andriuskevicius jumper. Langford came back and scored six straight points while Ndubi Ebi closed the half with an easy lay-up.

It wasn't until late in the final quarter that the RimRockers got the spark they needed to heat things up. Arkansas erased the large margin the Flyers had built and came within one point of tying Fort Worth. Langford was fouled and went 1-2 at the line. Jackson was then fouled with 3:30 minutes remaining and sank both charity shots to even the score at 98 all. They Flyers answered with a basket on their next possession, marking their last lead of the night. Myron Allen was fouled while attempting a 3-point shot and sank all three free throws, giving the RimRockers their first lead since the first quarter. Jackson and Clay Tucker each followed with baskets as the RimRockers quickly pulled away. After Langford and Kelenna Azubuike each made 1 of 2 free throws, the ball game was still in reach for the Flyers, however Kareem Reid was fouled immediately upon RimRockers possession and sank both shots to put the Flyers out of reach for the victory. Olu Famutimi ended the game with a powerful slam dunk as the final seconds ticked off the clock.

"I played the guys who were playing the hardest tonight," Stoglin said. "I went with the ones who really wanted to win and they did it for us big".

Behind Jackson's 27 points and 10 rebounds, Reid poured in 20 points and nine assists, Famutimi contributed 19 points and nine boards, Marcus Campbell finished with 13 points and Myron Allen rounded up the double digit club with 12 points and on blocked shot.

The Flyers had four double figure scorers tonight. Langford led the contest with 31 points nine assists and 8 rebounds, followed by Azubuike's 25 point effort. Ime Udoka finished with 16 points and Aaron Miles added 10.

Up next for the RimRockers are the Austin Toros in back-to-back games on March 25 and 26. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 both nights at Alltel Arena.



NBA G League Stories from March 20, 2006


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