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G League Santa Cruz Warriors

Warriors Let 22-Point Lead Slip Away in Loss to Fort Wayne

January 6, 2014 - NBA G League (G League)
Santa Cruz Warriors News Release


RENO, Nev. - The Santa Cruz Warriors lost a 22-point lead and fell to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants 101-97 in their first game of the NBA D-League Showcase.

Santa Cruz was led by Cameron Jones, who scored 23 points. Kiwi Gardner scored 20 points off the bench, while Dominic McGuire pulled down a game-high 12 boards. Dewayne Dedmon blocked a game-high four shots.

Fort Wayne's Ron Howard led all scorers with 28 points, making 16 free throws on 19 attempts, which are both all-time highs for a Santa Cruz opponent. Trey McKinney Jones scored 25, while Memphis Grizzlies assignee Jamaal Franklin scored 15 off the bench. Tony Mitchell, on assignment from the Detroit Pistons, scored 10 points and registered two blocks.

The Warriors raced out to an 18-point lead in the first quarter, extending it to 22 in the second. The Mad Ants went on a 13-0 run in the third quarter to tie the game at 61, but Santa Cruz answered and ended the period with a five-point advantage. The Mad Ants and Warriors were even five more times during the fourth quarter, with Fort Wayne taking its first lead on a Trey McKinney Jones layup with 3:54 left. The game was tied at 97 with 49.3 seconds remaining, but the Mad Ants scored four straight at the free throw line to seal the victory.

The Warriors' 22-point lead is the largest lead blown in a loss in team history. Santa Cruz shot 40.7% from the floor, while Fort Wayne shot 35.4%. Fort Wayne went 79.6% from the free throw line, making 39 of 49 - NBA D-League records for foul shots made and attempted this season. The Warriors held the advantage on rebounds (48-42), points in the paint (48-32) and blocks (5-2). The Mad Ants had more steals (16-6) and committed fewer turnovers (13-23).

The Santa Cruz Warriors stay in Reno at the NBA D-League Showcase for a rematch of last season's NBA D-League Finals, taking on the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Thursday, January 9 at 12:45 p.m. Fans can listen to the broadcast on the Santa Cruz Warriors flagship station, KION 1460AM/101.1FM, or watch the game live on NBA TV.

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