News release from the Mad Ants:
Santa Cruz Warriors come from behind to defeat Fort Wayne Mad Ants in game one of the 2015 NBA D-Leauge Finals
Best-of-Three Series to Resume Sunday, April 26 in Santa Cruz
(April 23, 2015) – The Santa Cruz Warriors fought back from a 20-point first-quarter deficit to defeat the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, 119-115, in Game One of the 2015 NBA Development League Finals at Fort Wayne’s Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.
The Warriors, who snapped Fort Wayne’s 10-game postseason win streak, earned their first NBA D-League Finals victory. Santa Cruz was led by Elliot Williams’ 31-point outing and Ognjen Kuzmic’s 18-point, 13-rebound double-double.
Fort Wayne surged to a 20-point lead, 31-11, in the first quarter on the back of Ramon Harris’ 13 points on five-of-six from the field in the frame. The Mad Ants led by nine at the break, while Williams scored 17 points in the half to keep Santa Cruz in the game.
Aaron Craft and Taylor Griffin each scored 12 points in the third quarter for Santa Cruz, when the visiting team took its first lead of the game. At the end of three, the Warriors owned a one-point advantage, 86-85, and the team never looked back, outscoring Fort Wayne, 33-30, in the final period to secure the victory.
Harris led the Mad Ants with 30 points and Jordan Crawford added 24 points and 11 assists in the loss as all five Fort Wayne starters scored in double figures.
The best-of-three series continues on Sunday, April 26, when the teams meet at 7:00 p.m. ET in Santa Cruz. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
About the NBA Development League
The NBA Development League is the NBA’s official minor league, preparing players, coaches, officials, trainers, and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory. Featuring 18 teams with direct affiliations with NBA franchises for the 2014-15 season, the league offers elite professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. One-third of all NBA players at the end of the 2013-14 season boasted NBA D-League experience. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. Fans can watch all NBA D-League games through a YouTube video player on NBA.com/dleague.
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