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Santa Cruz Warriors

Warriors Topped by Bakersfield

January 30, 2016 - NBA G League (G League)
Santa Cruz Warriors News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The NBA D-League Champion Santa Cruz Warriors (12-17) were defeated by the Bakersfield Jam (11-19) 123-108 Friday night at the Dignity Health Event Center.

Recently-named 2016 NBA D-League All-Star Elliot Williams led the way with 31 points and seven assists for Santa Cruz, going 5-of-8 from beyond the arc for his tenth 30-point game of the season. Golden State Warriors assignee Kevon Looney scored a season-high 18 points off the bench, while Darington Hobson also scored 18. Aaron Craft contributed a season-high-tying 13 points and six assists, while Verdell Jones III added 13 points and three steals in a reserve role.

Xavier Silas led the Jam with 31 points, connecting on eight 3-pointers in eleven attempts from distance. Terrico White chipped in with 27 points, while 2016 NBA D-League All-Star Xavier Munford had a double-double with 21 points and 10 assists. Additionally, Derek Cooke Jr. had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds and Kyle Casey added 14 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

Bakersfield, which scored 72 second-half points, broke a Santa Cruz opponent record with its 64 percent 3-point shooting. The Jam shot 18-of-28 from downtown for the game and 12-of-15 from beyond the arc in the second half.

Aside from a tie at 14-14, Bakersfield held the lead for the entire first quarter, but Santa Cruz never trailed by more than six points in the first and made a 26-25 Bakersfield edge heading into the second quarter.

The second quarter featured seven lead changes and five ties alone. Santa Cruz snagged its first lead of the game on the second three of the period from Verdell Jones III to make it 34-32 with 7:24 remaining in the half. The Warriors would head into the break with a 54-51 lead behind a Nwaelele to lob at the rim in the final second.

Bakersfield picked up the shooting pace from downtown in the third quarter, connecting on their first six 3-pointers of the period. The hot shooting allowed the Jam to get out to a 10-point lead, but Santa Cruz answered Bakersfield's 12-2 spurt with a 12-2 run of its own, and trailed by two-point margin heading into the fourth.

Santa Cruz opened the fourth quarter with a stop and a bucket from Daniel Coursey to level the score at 89-89, but it would be the last time Santa Cruz did not trail in the game. Bakersfield would outscore Santa Cruz 34-21 in the final frame.

The Santa Cruz Warriors head to Reno to take on the Pacific Division-leading Bighorns Sunday at 3 p.m. PST. Fans can watch the game on the NBA D-League's YouTube channel, via www.santacruzbasketball.com.

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