Springfield Storms Past Erie with Record-Setting Offensive Performance
Published on March 4, 2013 under NBA G League (G League)
Springfield Armor News Release
Springfield, Mass. - The Springfield Armor, presented by MGM Springfield, scored a franchise-record 130 points en route to a 130-112 victory over the Erie BayHawks tonight at the MassMutual Center. The Armor also set new franchise records for field goals made (52), field goal percentage (61.2%) and three-point field goal percentage (63.6%) on the evening.
The Armor (14-23) roared out of the gate on their home floor, scoring a season-quarter-high 40 points in the first to take an early 40-30 lead. Springfield knocked down 15-of-23 shots, including a blistering 7-of-9 from behind the arc, in the quarter for 65.2%. Erie (20-18) buried 13-of-18 shots for 72.2% in the period. Toko Shengelia, on assignment from the Brooklyn Nets, scored 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting in the first to spur Springfield's hot start.
In the second, Erie began the quarter on a 15-4 run to seize a 45-44 lead at the 8:09 mark. From there, neither team was able to build a lead larger than five points as Erie managed to hang around behind Cory Higgins' nine points in the quarter. Carleton Scott sank a three-pointer to extend Springfield's advantage to five points (64-59) with just 26.4 seconds left in the half before a D.J. Kennedy jumper pulled Erie within three (64-61) at intermission.
The Armor shot 56.1% (23-of-41) from the field in the half, including 10-of-13 for 76.9% from three-point range, with Shengelia (18 points), Scott (15 points) and Kris Joseph (13 points) pacing the attack. The BayHawks nearly matched the Armor, knocking down 55.6% (25-of-45) of their shots with the trio of Kennedy (13 points), Higgins (13 points) and Demonte Harper (10 points) leading the way.
Springfield opened up the third quarter by ripping off a quick 7-2 run to take an eight-point lead (71-63) a little over two minutes in. Erie responded by methodically chipping away at the Armor's advantage and the BayHawks surged ahead on a Nick Covington layup (76-75) at the 6:21 mark of the quarter. The final six minutes of the period featured six ties and two lead changes, with a Joseph jumper giving Springfield a four-point cushion (91-87) with 1:19 to go. The BayHawks battled back and scored the final six points of the quarter, capped by a Kyle Goldcamp tip-in, to take a 93-91 advantage into the fourth quarter.
After a tightly-contested three quarters in Springfield, the fourth quarter belonged to the Armor. Erie held a one-point lead (100-99) with 9:19 to go before the Armor went on the game's decisive run. A Willie Reed dunk sparked a 10-0 run and Springfield never led by fewer than seven points for the remainder of the quarter. The Armor took a game-high 20-point lead (130-110) with 1:03 to play and cruised to the 130-112 victory.
Springfield outscored Erie 39-19 in the quarter, burying 16-of-22 shots for 72.7% while holding Erie to 6-of-20 for 30.0%. Ramone Moore, who entered the quarter with 0 points on 0-of-2 shooting, exploded for 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting in the period as the Armor kept the entire starting five on the bench for the duration of the quarter.
Shengelia finished with a game-high 26 points, his sixth straight game of 20 or more points while on assignment from Brooklyn, on 9-of-14 shooting, with six assists in 32 minutes. Joseph added 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting with seven rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes, Moore tallied 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting in 20 minutes, Scott added 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting in 30 minutes and Reed contributed 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting in 34 minutes. Ben Uzoh dished out 11 assists with just three turnovers in 29 minutes to help facilitate the Armor's record-setting offensive performance.
The Armor connected on 52-of-85 shots from the field, including 14-of-22 from behind the arc, and dished out a season-high 32 assists in the victory.
Kennedy led all scorers tonight with 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting to go along with six rebounds and eight assists in 38 minutes. Higgins chipped in 21 points in 38 minutes, Harper poured in 19 points in 23 minutes off the bench, Goldcamp recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in 30 minutes and Tirrell Baines added 10 points in 27 minutes.
The Armor and BayHawks will meet again on Friday when the two teams do battle at 7:00 pm at Erie Insurance Arena. The Armor return home on Thursday, March 14 when they host the Texas Legends at 7:00 pm in Springfield.
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