Slam Take Series from Edmonton, 111-99
May 22, 2011 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Bellingham Slam News Release
EDMONTON, Alta. - The Bellingham Slam used a strong third quarter to defeat the Edmonton Energy, 111-99, in a physical International Basketball League game at the Van Vliet Centre on Sunday afternoon.
The win gave the Slam a 2-1 advantage in the three-game weekend series. Bellingham fell on Friday, 129-107, before prevailing 130-95 on Saturday.
The Slam were victorious despite playing more than half the game with just seven available players, when center Blake Poole left the contest after taking an elbow to the head from Edmonton's Lee Scruggs in the second quarter. As a precaution, Poole was taken to the hospital with concussion-like symptoms, but was released Sunday evening. Scruggs was assessed a flagrant foul for the play, but was not ejected.
Leading 54-49 at halftime, the Slam used a 12-3 run in the middle stages of the third quarter to begin to pull away and led by 15 at the end of the period, 86-71.
But the Energy didn't go down quietly, as they used an 11-2 run to pull within six, at 88-82, with 9:45 left. The Slam responded with a solid effort midway through the quarter that included a three-point play by Michael Duty and a breakaway dunk by Morris Anderson that put the Slam up by 14. Bellingham's run prompted a vocal protest from Edmonton head coach Skousen Harker, leading to his ejection for the second consecutive game. Throughout the weekend's three games, the Energy racked up 11 total technical fouls.
Jacob Stevenson led the Slam with 22 points, while Anderson and Ryan Diggs finished with 18.
William Broadus led Edmonton with 23 points.
The Slam will play one more road game on Thursday in Beaverton, Ore. against the Portland Chinooks, before returning home to face the Vancouver Volcanoes on Friday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Whatcom Pavilion.
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International Basketball League Stories from May 22, 2011
- Slam Take Series from Edmonton, 111-99 - Bellingham Slam
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