Three-ball lifts Tulsa
January 16, 2006 - NBA G League (G League)
Tulsa 66ers News Release
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., January 16 - The Tulsa 66ers took advantage of the hot outside shooting touch of Desmon Farmer and Ersan Ilyasova to score a 100-89 victory over the Fort Worth Flyers in game seven of the NBA Development League MLK Showcase at the Crown Coliseum on Monday.
The victory improved Tulsa to 10-11. Fort Worth dropped to 10-10 with its seventh loss in the last nine games.
Farmer connected on 5-of-8 three pointers, scoring 25 points, to pace Tulsa. Ilyasova, on assignment from the Milwaukee Bucks, hit 3-of-4 threes and 5-of-9 from the floor to score 13 points off the 66ers bench. He also blocked a pair of shots.
"Des (Farmer) has responded to his opportunity to play. When Bernard King went down with the stress fracture, Des jumped right in there," Tulsa coach Joey Meyer said. "You never know when your opportunity is going to come. That's what this league is all about, getting your chance and taking advantage of it."
Since moving into the starting lineup 12 games ago Farmer has averaged 18.1 points per game and is shooting 45-percent from the floor. In Tulsa's first nine games as a non-starter he averaged 10.7 points and shot just 37-percent from the field.
Tang Hamilton scored 15, while Will Conroy hit for 14 and also converted both three-pointers he attempted for the 66ers. Torraye Braggs chipped in 12 and Otis George 10 to complete double-figure scorers for Tulsa. Hamilton and George had seven rebounds each.
"We had 19 baskets in the first half and 17 assists. That's basketball," Meyer said. "That's the way I like to play the game. If we play like that we always have a chance to win."
While Tulsa was making 10-of-15 from long range, Fort Worth converted 5-of-9 from behind the arc. The Flyers outrebounded the 66ers 41-35, but six more made free throws and four more made threes put Tulsa over the top.
The Flyers cut a 19-point Tulsa lead to 10 at 77-67 at the end of three quarters, but the 66ers were able to maintain the cushion to go up 2-1 in the season series with Fort Worth.
"We dug a hole early by playing with no sense of urgency," Fort Worth coach Sam Vincent said. "In the second half we hustled, we trapped and we played with aggression, but it wasn't enough.
"We have seen how much harder we have to play," Vincent said. "Our guys are learning this is a tough league."
Vonteego Cummings scored 20 points to lead Fort Worth. Rawle Marshall, on assignment from the Dallas Mavericks, scored 19 and grabbed seven rebounds. Ime Udoka had 15 points and nine boards for the Flyers, while Keith Langford chipped in 13 points.
Tulsa stays on the road, playing at Florida on Wednesday and Thursday before taking the weekend off. Fort Worth also stays on the highway, traveling to Austin on Wednesday and Arkansas on Friday.
To check the boxscore, click on the link below:
http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20060116/FTWTUL/boxscore.html
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NBA G League Stories from January 16, 2006
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