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Riverdragons Down Dazzle in Home Opener

November 22, 2002 - NBA G League (G League)
Columbus Riverdragons News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga., (November 22, 2002) - Jermaine Walker banked a lay-up with 3.6 seconds remaining off a pass in the lane from a driving Tang Hamilton to push the Columbus Riverdragons to a 70-69 victory over the Roanoke Dazzle in front of 2,368 at the Columbus Civic Center.

The fourth quarter saw 14 lead changes alone with Walker's only points of the game proving to be the difference. Walker's heroics topped a 22-foot jump shot by Dazzle (1-4) guard Jamal Robinson with 20.9 seconds left in regulation, which had put the Dazzle ahead 69-68.

The Riverdragons improve to 3-1 after posting tonight's win in their 2002-03 NBDL regular season home opener. Nate Johnson, the NBDL's leading scorer, posted a game-high 24 points, shooting a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line.

"You got to give Roanoke some credit," said Riverdragons head coach Jeff Malone. "They played good basketball. We hung in there and finally shot the ball better. We didn't shoot the ball well in the first quarter and got off to a slow start. After the N.Charleston game I think we grew up a little bit tonight."

The Riverdragons suffered their only defeat of the season on Wednesday, 111-109 in triple overtime to the Lowgators.

Tang Hamilton, the NBDL's leading rebounder, had game-high 10 rebounds and chipped in 6 points against the Dazzle. Riverdragons guard Jeremy Veal (15 points) and forward Derek Strong (12 points) both reached double-figures for Columbus.

The Dazzle were led by 15 points and 8 rebounds from 6-foot-11 center Mikki Moore, the first overall pick in the 2002 NBDL Draft.

The Riverdragons take Saturday off before resuming play Sunday, November 24 against the Mobile Revelers at the Civic Center at 6 p.m.. The Riverdragons defeated the Revelers 86-69 last Sunday in Mobile in the teams' first meeting of the season.

The Dazzle, who have played three games in the last four nights, also play Sunday and will take on the Greenville Groove at the BI-LO Center.

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