Strong Fourth Quarter Propels Riverdragons To Third Straight Victory

Published on February 16, 2004 under NBA G League (G League)
Columbus Riverdragons News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga.—The Columbus Riverdragons opened the fourth quarter with a 15-3 run to pull away for their third victory in a row, defeating the Fayetteville Patriots 100-94 in a Presidents Day special at the Columbus Civic Center on Monday afternoon. Six Dragons scored in double figures as Columbus (10-19) won for the fourth time in five games and made it two wins over Fayetteville (13-15) in the last four days. Adam Harrington and Tai Crutchfield both notched a team-high 16 points to lead the way for the Riverdragons, while the Patriots received a game-high 23 points from Junie Sanders in defeat.

Picking up where they left off over the weekend, Columbus rolled to an early 17-6 lead with 6:52 remaining in the first quarter as Harrington registered seven points in the run on a a three-pointer, two free throws and a lay-up. The Patriots answered back with three consecutive lay-ups of their own, and a Sanders turnaround jumper with 4:02 left in the period to get back within one at 17-16. Terence Morris helped the Dragons expand their lead once again with five points over the final 3:21 as Columbus built the advantage to five after one quarter, 30-25.

Carried by the strong play of center Jason Collier, Fayetteville got back in it in the second period, as the three-year NBA veteran with Houston posted ten points in the quarter. Following a 13-8 spurt by Columbus to open the stanza and increase the margin to ten at 43-33 with 5:30 to go, Collier got the rally started with his second three-pointer of the season. Sanders tallied back-to-back lay-ins and Collier hit two free throws and a fadeaway jumper to give the Patriots the lead at 50-48 with 10.9 seconds to go in the half, finishing off a 17-5 Fayetteville run. Harrington answered with a 26-foot three-ball at the other end to give Columbus the lead at the break, 51-50. Harrington ended the half with 12 points, while Collier notched 14 to lead the way for the Patriots.

Fayetteville continued its offensive efficiency in the third period, getting balanced scoring and hitting 11 of 18 shots to outscore the Columbus 27-25 in the quarter. The period saw the lead change five times and six ties. The Riverdragons twice built the lead to five points, but could not hold it. Up 73-68 with 2:59 left following a Derrick Bird lay-up, the Dragons saw the Patriots rally back with a 9-3 run to end the quarter. Bryan Lucas hit for back-to-back baskets inside while Britton Johnsen and Junie Sanders combined for five points in the run to give Fayetteville a 77-76 lead heading into the fourth.

Three Riverdragons lay-ups over the first 4:03 of the final period helped Columbus run off an 8-3 spurt to open the quarter for an 84-80 advantage. Jeff Myers then stole the show hitting a three, a free throw, and made two steals in a 7-0 run over the next 2:05 to boost the Dragons to an eleven point cushion at 91-80 with 5:52 left. Fayetteville crept to within five, at 99-94 with 53.5 seconds left after two Jason Capel free throws, but two turnovers on their final two possessions ended all hope for the Patriots.

Crutchfield's 16 points were a season-high for the 6-7 swing-man out of Philadelphia University. Myers had another solid performance off the bench, notching 14 points and four steals, while Morris tallied 12 and Kevin Lyde added 11 points respectively. Bird rounded out the double-figure scorers for Columbus with 11 points off the bench. Collier finished the night with 19 points and six rebounds for Fayetteville. Bryan Lucas added 13 points and nine rebounds, while Britton Johnsen posted 12 points in the loss.

The Riverdragons return to action this Friday night, February 20 at the North Charleston Coliseum against the first-place Charleston Lowgators at 7:30 p.m.. The Patriots have a four-day hiatus before resuming their schedule against Roanoke on Saturday, February 21 at the Crown Coliseum. For more information log onto nbdl.com.

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NBA G League Stories from February 16, 2004


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