G League Santa Cruz Warriors

Santa Cruz Warriors Advance to the NBA D-League Finals

Published on April 20, 2013 under NBA G League (G League)
Santa Cruz Warriors News Release


SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - The Santa Cruz Warriors defeated the Austin Toros 103-97 Friday night, completing the series sweep and advancing to the NBA D-League Finals in their inaugural season.

Santa Cruz was paced by Jeremy Tyler, who scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Lance Goulbourne recorded his first double-double of the playoffs with 13 points and a game-high 11 boards, in addition to a game-high four steals.

Austin was led by Tre Kelley, who scored a game-high 24 points. Top NBA D-League prospect Lester Hudson scored 20 and grabbed seven rebounds, while Chris Roberts chipped in with 11 points.

Austin raced out to a 10-0 lead to start the game, with Stefhon Hannah breaking the Santa Cruz scoring drought at the 8:16 mark. The Warriors ended the first quarter down by 10, and the Toros extended their lead to 12 before Santa Cruz went on a 16-4 run to tie the game midway through the second quarter. Austin ended the first half ahead by six, and held a lead going into the fourth quarter.

The Toros led by as much as six early in the fourth, but a Darington Hobson layup with 4:58 left tied the game at 88. After trading buckets, the Toros and Warriors were knotted up at 94 with 2:19 remaining, but Santa Cruz ended the game on a 9-3 run to secure a finals berth.

"It feels great," said Santa Cruz Warriors Head Coach Nate Bjorkgren after the victory. "It was an outstanding atmosphere. The players played hard, but we have a lot of work to do yet."

Santa Cruz held the edge on field goal shooting (45.2%-41.8%), rebounds (44-35) and points in the paint (42-36). Both teams committed the same number of turnovers (19).

With Friday's win, the Santa Cruz Warriors will play the winner of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers-Tulsa 66ers series for the NBA D-League Championship. A schedule of games will be released upon completion of that series.

For a link to the box score, click here: http://on.nba.com/10oMFF2. For more information, please contact Matt de Nesnera, Public and Community Relations manager, at 831-713-4396 or 703-554-5499.

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