South Bay Heads in the Right Direction, Beats Northern Arizona

December 28, 2019 - NBA G League (G League)
South Bay Lakers News Release

PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ - The South Bay Lakers snapped a four-game losing streak as they beat the Northern Arizona Suns, 124-120, on Saturday night. Devontae Cacok led the Lakers (9-9) with 22 points and a career-best 16 rebounds off the bench. Jared Harper paced the Suns (2-16) with 27 points and seven assists.

The Suns jumped out to a 36-25 lead through one despite eight early points from Reggie Hearn. Tariq Owens scored 10 points in the opening frame to give Northern Arizona the lead. The Lakers went into the half only down one, 58-57, behind a combined 20 second quarter points from the second unit. Cacok nearly finished the first half with a double-double, tallying 11 points and nine rebounds.

South Bay grabbed the lead through three, 90-84, as Zach Norvell Jr. scored nine points in the period and the Lakers shot 61.1 percent from the field. Hearn scored 11 points in the fourth quarter as the Lakers put the finishing touches on their ninth win of the season.

Harper's game-high 27 points led Northern Arizona and Owens finished the night with 16 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Jalen Lecque tallied 14 points on assignment from Phoenix and Aaron Epps led the second unit with 13 points and two blocks. ShawnDre Jones (12 points) and Trayvon Palmer (10 points) also scored in double figures for the Suns.

Cacok's 14th double-double of the year guided the Lakers to the win, while Norvell Jr. (20 points, eight rebounds, three assists) and Hearn (22 points, seven rebounds) provided a nice scoring punch for South Bay. Kostas Antetokounmpo finished with 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and four blocks, while Travis Wear tallied 12 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Jordan Caroline also scored in double figures with 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists off the bench.

South Bay will now head home to host the Texas Legends on Tuesday, December 31 at 7:00pm from the UCLA Health Training Center.

NBA G League Stories from December 28, 2019

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• Austin Spurs Capture 117-108 Victory against Salt Lake City Stars - Austin Spurs
• Lakeland Defeats Herd 118-111 on Second Night of Back-To-Back - Wisconsin Herd
• Suns Force 31 Turnovers, Storm Back in Fourth Before Running out of Time - Northern Arizona Suns
• Drive Close out Decade with a Road Win - Grand Rapids Drive
• Bowen II Finishes with Career-High 25 Points, Drive Rally Back against Fort Wayne - Indiana Mad Ants
• South Bay Heads in the Right Direction, Beats Northern Arizona - South Bay Lakers
• Strong Start Propels Charge Through Nets - Cleveland Charge
• Texas Legends Snap Stockton Kings Home Game Winning Streak with 125-115 Victory - Stockton Kings
• Legends Overthrow Kings - Texas Legends
• Stars up Winning Streak to 14 with Victory over Spurs - Salt Lake City Stars
• Clippers Hold off Late Blue Rally - Ontario Clippers

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