Wizards Down Jam To Cap Perfect Homestand
February 10, 2010 - NBA G League (G League)
Dakota Wizards News Release
BISMARCK, ND, February 10, 2010 - It wasn't pretty, but the Dakota Wizards found a way to pull out a 109-100 win over the Bakersfield Jam on Wednesday night and earn their fourth victory in as many games on the current homestand. The Wizards were held to 40.3% shooting for the game but got to the free throw line 51 times, connecting on 43 of those attempts. Romel Beck had another fantastic night for Dakota, going 10-of-15 from the field and finishing with 24 points.
Blake Ahearn got off to a great start for Bakersfield in the first quarter. His eleven points in the opening frame helped key an 11-4 run that staked the Jam to a 29-23 lead after one period of play.
The Wizards picked up the defensive intensity in the second quarter. Although Bakersfield's Will Daniels was 4-of-4 from the field in the second and scored nine points, Dakota held the rest of the Jam to 3-of-18 (16.7%) shooting in the period. The Wizards scored 33 points in the second quarter despite only making ten field goals. They were able exploit Bakersfield's perimeter defenders, get to the rim and draw contact. Dakota earned 15 trips to the free throw line in the quarter, converting on eleven. The Wizards took a 56-51 lead into the locker room at the intermission.
Dakota struggled mightily with their shooting coming out after the break. They went 6-of-21 from the field in the third period. However, they were again able to get back to the free throw line, going 12-of-16 from the charity stripe in the third to help keep the lead. Daniels continued to stay hot for the Jam, going 5-of-6 in the frame and adding 13 more points to his total. The Wizards took an 81-75 lead heading into the final period.
Dakota's revolving door at the free throw line continued in the fourth quarter. The Wizards were a perfect 16-of-16 from the line in the period with Maurice Baker and Renaldo Major each hitting six apiece. Bakersfield tried to get back into the game by shooting 3-pointers but they went cold, making only 1-of-7 shots from beyond the arc in the final period. The Wizards refused to cough up a late lead to the Jam like they did on Tuesday night and pulled away with the nine point win.
Along with Beck's 24, Major had a big night for Dakota with 17 points and twelve rebounds. Ahearn led the Jam with 24 points and Daniels put up 23 points and eight rebounds.
Both teams will be off until February 19th because of NBA All-Star Weekend. Dakota will travel to Sioux Falls for a pair of games after the break while Bakersfield will host Austin.
NBA G League Stories from February 10, 2010
- Wizards Down Jam To Cap Perfect Homestand - Dakota Wizards
- Skyforce Heads Into All-Star Break With Victory Over Thunderbirds - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Toppert's Hot Hand Not Enough As T-Birds Fall To Skyforce 100-90 - New Mexico Thunderbirds
- 66ers Overwhelm D-Fenders In 102-90 Road Victory - Tulsa 66ers
- Red Claws Tripped Up By Austin Toros 98-86 - Maine Celtics
- D-Fenders Drop To 66ers In Second Chance Battle - Los Angeles D-Fenders
- T-Birds To Hold NBA Development League All-Star Game Watch Party At Spectators - New Mexico Thunderbirds
- Anderson And Dorsey To Miss All-Star Game - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
- Brian Butch Added To NBA D-League All-Star Team - Bakersfield Jam
- Dakota's Romel Beck Named To D-League All-Star Team - Dakota Wizards
- Madame Ants Dance Clinic February 27th - Indiana Mad Ants
- 2010 NBA D-League All-Star Game Replacements Announced - G League
- Tonight's Vipers Game In Springfield Postponed - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
- Springfield Armor Game Cancelled - Springfield Armor
- Rio Grande Valley Vipers At Springfield Armor Game Postponed - G League
- NBA D-League Daily Developments - G League
- Frisco Head Coach Nancy Lieberman To Appear In NBA All-Star Celebrity Game - Texas Legends
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
