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Riverdragons Close Season with a Loss

March 22, 2003 - NBA G League (G League)
Columbus Riverdragons News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga., (March 22) – NBDL MVP Devin Brown scored a game-high 22 points as the playoff bound Fayetteville Patriots closed the regular season with their fourth straight victory over Columbus in front of a Riverdragons team record crowd of 6,935 at the Columbus Civic Center.

The Patriots (32-18) are the top seed in the upcoming NBDL Playoffs and will host the Game 1 of the NBDL Semifinals Tuesday, March 25 at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville. The Patriots are making their first trip in team history to the postseason.

Junie Sanders hit a turnaround jumper from eight feet to cap a 16-4 run and put the Patriots ahead a game-high 16 points late in the third period. Columbus (23-27) would be unable to get within less than double digits the rest of the way.

Riverdragons rookie point guard Sean Peterson led Columbus with 19 points and 11 assists to post his first NBDL double-double. The loss snapped the Riverdragons home winning streak at three.

Tang Hamilton added 18 points and nine rebounds to fall one rebound shy of his 26th double-double of the year. Hamilton, however, did set a new league record for double-doubles in a season with 25.

Saul Smith, playing in his final game as a Riverdragon before pursuing a career in coaching, played just two minutes due to a knee injury. Prior to tip, Smith thanked the record crowd for its support over the last two seasons.

"I had a great time tonight," said Smith. "The community in Columbus has been wonderful. They've been supporting the Riverdragons since we got here. They make it out when they can and that's the main thing. I'm looking forward to coming here on a visit and watching some ball next season."

Also prior to tonight's game, NBDL President Phil Evans presented Riverdragons Tang Hamilton and Nate Johnson with plaques honoring their selections to the All-NBDL first and second teams.

Tape-delayed coverage of tonight's game will be broadcast on ESPN2 Monday, March 24 at 3 p.m. and re-broadcast Tuesday, March 26 at noon on NBA TV.



NBA G League Stories from March 22, 2003


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