Sports stats



Second Half Surge Powers Dragons Past Flame, 87-73

February 26, 2005 - NBA G League (G League)
Columbus Riverdragons News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga.— Ramel Curry scored a team-high and game-high tying 15 points and the Columbus Riverdragons outscored the Florida Flame 48-35 in the second half to earn an 87-73 victory at the Columbus Civic Center on Saturday afternoon. The win was the Riverdragons (21-11) seventh in eight meetings this season with the Flame (8-25) and gave Columbus a two-game win streak at home.

With their head coach Jeff Malone absent due to an illness, the Riverdragons responded for assistant coach Dean Murray by overcoming a nine-point first half deficit to overpower Florida in the second half. Columbus forced 22 Flame turnovers and outscored Florida 24-12 at the foul line to post its sixth win in the last nine games.

For the second straight game, the Riverdragons struggled out of the gate on offense, hitting just six of 18 field goals in the first quarter as Florida took a 23-17 lead after one period. Jeff Myers hit a 22-foot jumper with 3:33 to play in the period to bring the Dragons within one point at 14-13, but consecutive baskets from Kirk Haston, Hiram Fuller, and Tim Pickett keyed a quarter-ending 9-4 run for Florida that gave the Flame a six point advantage. Haston and Smush Parker each had six points in the quarter to lead the way and Florida outscored Columbus 16-4 in the paint.

The Flame lead would balloon to as many as nine points in the second quarter following a Marcus Moore five-footer in the lane that made it 29-20 with 8:12 remaining in the first half. But Reed Rawlings jumpstarted the Dragons comeback effort with a 23-foot jump shot that brought Columbus within five points, at 31-26, with 6:10 to go. Scott Merritt then book-ended two Neil Yanke free throws with a pair of turnaround jumpers to finish off an 8-0 Riverdragons run that gave Columbus its first lead since early in the first quarter at 32-31 with 3:50 left in the stanza. Curry's free throw with 15.8 seconds to play in the half gave the Dragons a 39-38 edge at the break. Curry led the way with nine points in the half for Columbus while Haston's eight points led the charge for Florida over the first two periods.

The Riverdragons began to pull away in the third quarter, opening the stanza with an 18-10 run over the first 7:51 that extended the advantage to nine, at 57-48 with 4:09 left. Rawlings posted six points (all on free throws) and Jeff Myers capped off the spurt with driving lay-up for the Dragons. Moore's short bank shot with 47.9 seconds left made it a four-point game, 60-56, but Adam Harrington hit a three-pointer with 25.9 seconds to go that boosted the Columbus advantage back to seven, 63-56, heading into the fourth quarter.

After the two teams traded baskets to begin the fourth period, Parker hit three consecutive free throws that brought the Flame within four points, 77-73, at the 3:04 mark. That was as close as Florida would get as the Riverdragons Mike Benton tallied six of his 10 quarter points over the final 2:27 to put the game out of reach. Benton's three-point play, 16 foot jumper, and free throw with 31.4 seconds to go sealed the win for the Dragons.

Columbus finished with five players in double figures. Along with Curry's 15 points, Benton and Rawlings posted 12 points apiece, while Merritt and Myers both finished with 10 points. Florida finished with four players in double figures. Fuller continued his strong play against Columbus, earning his league-best sixteenth double-double with a game-high tying 15 points and game-high 13 rebounds for the Flame. Parker tallied 13 points and seven assists, while Haston and Moore added 10 points apiece in the loss.

The second-place Riverdragons return to action on the road this Tuesday, March 1, as they travel to take on the the first-place Roanoke Dazzle at the Roanoke Civic Center. Tip-off is 7:05 p.m.. Florida will return to the court on Thursday, March 3 as the Flame open a two-game homestand at the Germain Arena, hosting Roanoke at 7:30 p.m.. For more information, log onto nbdl.com.



NBA G League Stories from February 26, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central