Win Keeps Fort Wayne in Control of Their Playoff Destiny
April 3, 2015 - NBA G League (G League)
Sioux Falls Skyforce News Release
Sioux Falls, SD (April 3, 2015) - The Fort Wayne Mad Ants remained in control of their playoff destiny with a 98-91 victory over the Central Division Champion Sioux Falls Skyforce. With a win over the Skyforce tomorrow night at home, Fort Wayne would clinch the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot in the NBA D-League Playoffs.
A back-and-forth first quarter saw a total of six lead changes and three ties before the Skyforce (29-20) took a 22-20 lead into the second quarter behind five points from Andre Dawkins. The Skyforce shot 50.0% from the field in the opening quarter compared to Fort Wayne's (27-22) 42.1%.
Sioux Falls would hold their lead for all but 40 seconds of the second quarter and took a 49-45 lead into halftime. Dawkins would stay hot from the field and record 12 second quarter points, giving him a game high 17 points at the half. The Mad Ants would shoot only 9-23 (39.1%) in the quarter.
The Skyforce would grow their lead as big as nine in the third quarter after a Dawkins' three gave Sioux Falls a 68-59 lead. From there, Fort Wayne would end the quarter on a 14-0 run and take a 73-68 lead into the final quarter. Five separate Mad Ants would score during the team's 14-0 run. C.J. Fair and Matt Bouldin each scored eight third quarter points for Fort Wayne who shot 55.0% from the field after shooting only 40.4% in the first half.
Sioux Falls would come back to tie the game twice in the final quarter but Fort Wayne would never give up the lead. Nine fourth quarter points from Fair would be key as the Mad Ants ended Sioux Falls' six game winning streak with a 98-91 victory in front of 3,134 fans at the Sanford Pentagon.
The Mad Ants were led by C.J. Fair's 28 points and 10 rebounds. 28 points in a career high for the rookie out of Syracuse. Jordan Crawford finished with 18 points, a game high 11 rebounds and seven assists. Matt Bouldin, Trey Mckinney-Jones and Ramon Harris would also score in double-digits for Fort Wayne, scoring 17, 15 and 11 respectively.
Sioux Falls was led by 20 points from Andre Dawkins. Dawkins finished the night 8-12 from the field and 4-7 from three-point range. Shawn Jones and Fuquan Edwin each finished with 18 points. Larry Drew II recorded his 15th double-double of the season by scoring 10 points and dishing out 11 assists.
The two teams will now hit the road as they face each other again tomorrow night in Fort Wayne. With a win, the Mad Ants would clinch their spot in the NBA D-League Playoffs.
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