Sun Kings escape Miners, 121-118
January 8, 2008 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)
East Kentucky Miners News Release
PIKEVILLE, KY. - CBA frontrunner Yakama, despite losing head coach Paul Woolpert to ejection in the first half, managed to hold on and defeat the host East Kentucky Miners Tuesday night at the East Kentucky Expo Center. The Miners missed a chance to tie the game at the buzzer as Yakama held on to win 121-118.
Yakama prevailed 5-2 in the quarter points category. The Sun Kings improved to 2-0 in all-time games played versus the Miners.
East Kentucky dropped to 12-13 overall following the loss.
Harvey Thomas, playing out of a reserve role, led Yakama with a game-high 30 points. Jason Sasser scored 25 points and Ray Weathers added 23 for the Sun Kings. Sasser recorded the game's lone double-double, pulling down 12 rebounds.
Jermaine Blackburn tossed in 20 points and Desmond Ferguson added 12 for visiting Yakama.
The Sun Kings forced East Kentucky to play from behind in the opening quarter. Perennial CBA championship contender Yakama led 28-18 at the conclusion of the first period. The Sun Kings weren't as effective defensively in the second quarter, but still toted a 62-55 lead into intermission.
East Kentucky outscored Yakama in both the second and fourth quarters.
Seven different East Kentucky players reached double figures in the scoring column. Forward Marcus Heard led East Kentucky with a game-high 26 points. Heard, who played out of a reserve role for the Miners, finished with seven total rebounds. Josh Pace followed with 23 points for the home team.
As part of a balanced East Kentucky offensive effort, Lawrence Barnes scored 16 points, Boo Jackson netted 14 and teammates Jason McLeish, Mike Crain and Bryant Northern tallied 10 apiece.
Yakama (20-1) outrebounded East Kentucky 40-36.
East Kentucky will return to action at the Expo Center on Wednesday when Rio Grande Valley visits for a non-conference. The Miners held off the Silverados 119-116 when the two teams played in their inaugural meeting on Monday, Nov. 26, 2007. Tip-off for the upcoming East Kentucky-Rio Grande Valley game is slated for 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available for the latest East Kentucky-Rio Grande Valley matchup.
Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from January 8, 2008
- Cavalry Take First Game Against Daredevils - Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry
- Xplosion Win Fourth Straight, 128-101 - Pittsburgh Xplosion
- Cavalry Sign Center Tony Key - Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry
- Xplosion's John Degroat Wins Player Of The Week - Pittsburgh Xplosion
- Sun Kings escape Miners, 121-118 - East Kentucky Miners
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