G League Maine Celtics

Tacko, Tremont Lead Claws in Second Half

Published on February 20, 2020 under NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release


Portland, ME - The Maine Red Claws, presented by Unum, held College Park to just 38 points in the second half, turning a halftime deficit into a 119-100 rout of the Skyhawks at the Portland Expo.

Maine (25-8) won its third straight game, thanks to a balanced attack. Six different Red Claws finished in double-digits, including Yante Maten with a team-high 19 points. Tremont Waters was flirting with a triple-double, finishing with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Kaiser Gates and Trey Davis each scored 16 points, while Tacko Fall recorded a huge double-double with 14 points and 18 rebounds to go with 5 blocked shots. Bryce Brown also scored 14 in the win.

College Park (18-18) was led by Jordan Sibert with 22 points, all in the first half. Charles Brown, Jr. added 20 in the loss.

Both teams started the game slowly, with Brown banking in a three to put Maine up 2. Nick Ward scored a contested lay-up to give the Skyhawks an 8-5 lead. College Park extended to a 10-0 run, and Jordan Sibert's free throw put the Skyhawks up 15-5. Tacko's tip-in stopped the bleeding. Maine then went on a 7-2 run, with Waters lay-up cutting the deficit to 5. Paige's alley-oop dunk got the crowd back into the game, and Gates knocked in a couple of threes as Maine continued to chip away. Trey Davis hit a lay-up at the end of the quarter to give Maine a 31-30 lead after 1.

In the 2nd, the Red Claws and Skyhawks would trade buckets and leads early. Wayne Blackshear's elbow jumper put Maine up 43-40. Jordan Sibert heated up for College Park, giving the Skyhawks a 57-52 lead with a corner three. Davis kept the Red Claws in the game, but Sibert scored 22 points on 6-9 from downtown in the first half alone, and College Park led 62-59 at the half. The Skyhawks shot 51.2% (22-43) in the first half, and 47.4% (9-19) from three-point range. Davis led Maine with 13 points at the break.

The Red Claws opened the second half with a quick bucket from Waters. Maten fed Tacko for the easy slam, putting Maine up 3. Brown rattled in a three to put the Claws up 74-68, and Maten's lay-up extended the lead to 8. Gates buried a three and Maine suddenly led by 11. Maine held on to that lead, out-scoring College Park 29-16 in the 3rd. The Red Claws led 88-78 after 3.

In the 4th, Gates' second effort put-back put the Claws up 92-81. Maten's big slam put Maine up 13. Maten hit another bucket to extend the lead to 98-81. Maine continued to roll, as Maten rolled to the basket to put the Claws up 20. Brown dropped in a pair of threes, catching fire from the outside. The Red Claws would roll to victory after that.

Maine finished shooting 48.5% (49-101) from the field, 39% (16-41) from three-point range, and 3-5 from the free throw line. College Park shot 40% (36-90) from the floor, 37.1% (13-35) from beyond the arc, and 9-13 from the charity stripe.

The Red Claws hit the road for the next three games, starting Saturday at Raptors 905. Maine returns home next Thursday, Feb. 27.

Check out the Maine Celtics Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



NBA G League Stories from February 20, 2020


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central