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G League Grand Rapids Drive

Romero's Big Game Helps Grand Rapids Rally to Beat Fort Wayne

March 20, 2016 - NBA G League (G League)
Grand Rapids Drive News Release


FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Ismael Romero may not speak much English, but he speaks fluent basketball.

The Grand Rapids Drive forward had a double-double and scored nine of his 13 points in the fourth quarter as the Drive rallied to beat the Fort Wayne Mad Ants 102-97 on Sunday afternoon in front of 3,605 fans at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

Grand Rapids, which trailed by four entering the fourth quarter, wins its third game in a row to improve to 21-24.

Romero, who is a native of Cuba, finished with 13 points, 14 rebounds and three steals. The 6-foot-9 forward is making the most of his playing time since Henry Sims was signed by the Brooklyn Nets last week. He's averaging 14 points and 10.6 rebounds in his last three games.

"Romero has had a pretty good ballgame," Fort Wayne announcer Bill Hazen said. "He had a huge fourth quarter."

Romero took a pass from Dahntay Jones and dunked it with 42 seconds left to give the Drive a 99-97 lead, their first lead of the half. On Fort Wayne's next possession, Romero stole the ball and was fouled. He made 1-of-2 free throws to make it 100-97 with 9 seconds left. Jones then hit two free throws to seal it.

Kelsey Barlow had a team-high 24 points for the Drive. The 6-foot-5 guard out of Illinois-Chicago has been on a hot streak of late. He's averaging 26.5 points per game in his last four games, including a career-high 32 against Maine.

Jones finished with 22 points, Devin Ebanks had 18 and Kam Holsey 12.

The highlight of the first half was a Barlow 3-pointer. At the buzzer to end the first quarter, he chucked the ball from about 35 feet out that banked off the glass and in to give the Drive a 28-26 lead.

"It's like March Madness in Fort Wayne," Mad Ants announcer Jaren Jackson said. "Wow!"

The Drive trailed 58-52 at halftime.

Grand Rapids continues a three-game road trip on Thursday when it travels to Erie for a 7 p.m. game. The next home game is March 28 against the Raptors 905.

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