Undermanned Dazzle Wallop Riverdragons, 104-83

Published on February 8, 2004 under NBA G League (G League)
Columbus Riverdragons News Release


George Williams and Josh Asselin led five players in double figures for Roanoke, as the Dazzle, playing with only eight healthy players, erupted for a blowout 104-83 victory over the Columbus Riverdragons on Sunday night at the Columbus Civic Center. Williams notched his second consecutive double-double, with 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Asselin, who didn't play in the second half with an injury, tallied 20 points, including 16 points in the second quarter. Coming off a 98-86 loss at Asheville the night before, Roanoke (14-11) forced 23 Columbus turnovers to deal the Riverdragons (7-19) their tenth loss in 13 home games this season. With the win, the Dazzle take sole possession of second place in the NBDL standings, just two and a half games behind first-place Charleston.

In a tight game through the first quarter, Roanoke received early production from Williams who posted six points on 3-5 shooting in the first period. Tai Crutchfield and Derrick Zimmerman notched four points apiece, but the Dragons trailed after one quarter, 18-17.

The Dazzle began to pull away from the Dragons in the second quarter. Asselin scored the first six points of the period for Roanoke with a pair of turnaround jumpers and a 16-foot jumper as the Dazzle upped the lead to three at 24-21 with 10:41 left in the half. After a Kevin Lyde jumper and two Jeff Myers free throws tied it up for the Dragons at 30-30 with 6:36 to go, the Dazzle proceeded to run off a 12-3 spurt, keyed by six points apiece from Asselin and Williams. A Williams five-foot jumper gave the Dazzle a nine-point advantage, at 42-33, with 3:16 left in the second period. Back to back lay-ups from Williams and Mike King produced an eleven point lead for Roanoke at the break, 50-39.

Without the services of the injured Asselin to begin the second half, the Dazzle were able to put the pressure on Columbus and continue building their advantage. A Curtis Staples three-ball opened up a 15 point lead at 61-46 with 7:49 to go in the third. Following a Zimmerman lay-in to make it a 13-point contest with 7:17 left, the Dazzle went on a back-breaking 9-0 run over the next 1:35 with Matt Carroll's 13-foot jumper boosting the Roanoke lead to 70-48 with 5:42 remaining in the stanza. Columbus looked to get back in it over the final five minutes of the period, with 17-8 run to end the quarter. Terence Morris hit a pair of jumpers, including a three, and Derrick Bird got back-to-back buckets in the spurt to help bring the Dragons back within 13 at 78-65 after three periods.

But the Dazzle extinguished any hopes of a Columbus comeback led by reserve Mike King, who tallied 13 points on 5-8 shooting in the fourth quarter. King scored seven straight points and the Dazzle, on the strength of King's personal, 7-0 run, upped the lead to 22 points at 98-76 with 3:59 to play.

King finished with 17 points on 7-11 shooting off the bench. Staples posted 14 points while Marque Perry notched a double-double with 12 points and 13 assists in the Dazzle victory. Columbus was led by Lyde for the second straight game, as the former Temple Owl posted 16 points. Morris and Myers tallied 13 points apiece in the loss for the Riverdragons.

Roanoke returns to the floor Wednesday, February 11, hosting the Asheville Altitude at the Roanoke Civic Center at 7 p.m.. Columbus will be back in action February 13-14 as it hits the road for a weekend, two-game trip to Fayetteville and Asheville. Game time for the Friday, February 13 contest at Fayetteville is 7:30 p.m.

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NBA G League Stories from February 8, 2004


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