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G League Austin Spurs

Toros Conclude Regular Season with Tough Loss to Flyers

April 6, 2006 - NBA G League (G League)
Austin Spurs News Release


AUSTIN, TEXAS, April 6, 2006 - Keene Azubuike scored 24 points and grabbed five rebounds as the Fort Worth Flyers (28-17) defeated the Austin Toros 98-94 at the Austin Convention Center on Thursday night snapping a two game losing streak and putting the Toros (24-24) playoffs chance in jeopardy.

Despite repeated chances to take control of the game in the fourth quarter, the Toros could never seem to overcome the relentless attack of Flyers guard Keith Langford. Langford scored nine of his 22 points including a driving lay-up with 1:03 to play to put the Flyers up 95-92. Two missed free throws by Langford with 12.9 seconds on the clock gave the Toros another chance to pull even but were unable to get up a shot and lost the ball over out of bounds.

"We played in a very good game with few mistakes, we just happened to lose," Toros head coach Dennis Johnson said. "Forty-one lead changes means it was a good game, there was not one really bad thing we can point too."

Clinging to a one point lead at the end of halftime, Toros guard Ramel Curry stepped up his game in the second half. Curry scored 19 of his 25 points in the half including a three pointer to give the Toros their biggest lead of the fourth quarter 88-86. Even with Curry's effort in the fourth quarter, the Toros couldn't overcome the league's regular season champion who was lead by the clutch play Langford and Azubuike's eight fourth quarter points.

"We knew it was going to be hard to beat the number one team," Curry said. "When we beat them the last time we knew they would definitely match their intensity for this game."

With the loss Thursday night to Fort Worth, the Toros will need help from the Florida Flame in order to have a playoff berth. A Flame loss to the Fayetteville Patriots on Saturday will secure a Toros playoff spot while a Flame win will leave the Toros out of postseason play.

Toros center Scott Merritt had a team-high 22 points, pulled down seven rebounds and stole the ball three times. Forward Jamar Smith nearly missed a triple double with 15 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. D-League defensive player of the year Derrick Zimmerman contributed 17 points and nine assists.

Fort Worth had all five starters score in double figures including forward Anthony Terrell (14), center Pavel Podkolzin (12) and Aaron Miles (11). Miles also had a team-high eight assists and Podkolzin lead the team in rebounding with nine.

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