Thunderbirds suffer tough loss in overtime
February 24, 2006 - NBA G League (G League)
New Mexico Thunderbirds News Release
ALBUQUERQUE, NM - The Albuquerque Thunderbirds slip to just one game over the .500 mark after being defeated by the Roanoke Dazzle 98-104 in the first overtime game in Thunderbird history. The win moved the Dazzle to a half game behind the Thunderbirds for the final playoff spot. Both teams are set to battle again tomorrow night at Tingley Coliseum, with tipoff scheduled for 7pm.
Roanoke took an early advantage after the first quarter with a 22-18 lead, but the Thunderbirds came back strong in the second by grabbing a seven point lead and went into the locker room up 47-42.
Roanoke came out hot in the third with a 10-0 run establishing a lead they would not lose until 23 seconds remained in regulation. With the Thunderbirds down 87-90, Dazzle Guard Will Bynum picked up a huge technical foul that sent Thunderbird forward T.J. Cummings to the line for three free throws. Cummings hit all three of his shots and tied the game at 90. Roanoke was not able to hit a shot at the buzzer which sent the game to overtime.
Thunderbird's Center Marcus Douthit scored the first bucket of overtime but was soon hit with a technical foul that gave the Dazzle the opportunity to gain the lead that they would never lose.
"Both teams knew how important this game was and we really were able to turn it on in the second half. I was please with the win," said Roanoke head coach Kent Davison.
Will Bynum led the Dazzle charge with 26 points and was followed by Anthony Grundy (24 points), Peter Ramos (21 points), and D'Or Fischer (10 points). Isiah Victor grabbed 11 rebounds.
"Both teams played hard, and it really hurt to loose in overtime," said Thunderbird head coach Michael Cooper.
Tierre Brown had an impressive 26 points for the Thunderbirds, while T.J. Cummings turned in 21 on the night. Marcus Douthit was top rebounder with 15. Thunderbirds tickets start as low as $9 and can be purchased at abqtbirds.com or at Ticketmaster locations. For premium or group seating call the Thunderbirds office at (505) 265-DUNK. The NBA Development League includes the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (N.M.), Arkansas RimRockers (Little Rock), Austin Toros (Texas), Fayetteville Patriots (N.C.), Florida Flame (Ft. Myers), Fort Worth Flyers (Texas), Roanoke Dazzle (Va.) and Tulsa 66ers (Okla.). The D-League offers players the opportunity to develop their talent in a highly competitive atmosphere under the NBA's umbrella. Thirty-eight (38) players have been called up to the NBA on 56 separate occasions. Eleven (11) former D-League coaches, six athletic trainers, 14 referees and 30 front office executives have also been called up since the start of the league's inaugural season in November 2001.
Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the league also offers fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. The D-League is a source of on-court talent for the NBA's 30 teams and is a diverse human resources pool for the NBA and its teams by training employees in management, operations, public relations, sales and marketing positions.
NBA G League Stories from February 24, 2006
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