Stars Seal Win in Double Overtime
December 31, 2016 - NBA G League (G League)
Salt Lake City Stars News Release
SALT LAKE CITY- The Salt Lake City Stars thrilled an audience of 1,579 Stars fans as they defeated the reigning D-League champions Sioux Falls Skyforce, 110-109, in double-overtime on a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Marcus Paige.
Trailing most of regulation and at one point down by 24, the Stars (4-13) rallied to outscore the Skyforce (14-5), 51-33, in the second half to erase Sioux Falls' lead and send the game into overtime. Both teams were held to just four points in the first overtime to provide another period of bonus basketball. In the second overtime, the Stars were down 109-107 with a second remaining and head coach Dean Cooper elected to go for the win.
"Coach drew the play up for me at the timeout and said forget a tie, we're going for the win," said Paige. "That gave me a lot of confidence. We ran the play and it was wide open. I took one bounce and got the shot off."
Jazz assignee Joel Bolomboy gathered his fifth double-double in a Stars uniform with a team-high tying 18 points and 12 rebounds. He also rejected two shots. Diamond Stone, who was assigned to the squad from the Los Angeles Clippers, finished the game with 17 points and nine rebounds.
Sioux Falls was led by Keith Benson's game-high double-double of 33 points and 17 rebounds. Three other Skyforce players also notched double-digits.
The Stars will continue their home stand Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Blue. Tickets are available, free of online fees, at slcstars.com.
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