Game recap from the Mad Ants:
Xavier Thames hits shot at the buzzer to give Mad Ants 1-0 start
(November 14, 2015) – The Mad Ants, sponsored by Lutheran Health Network, opened their 2015-16 season in thrilling fashion with a 83-30 win over the Raptors 905 Saturday, November 14th at Allen Co. War Memorial Coliseum.
With just seconds remaining and the score locked at 80-80, returning Mad Ant, Xavier Thames hit the dagger behind the three point arc to propel the Mad Ants to a 1-0 season start.
The first half was a swap of the lead by both teams, eventually giving way to a 36-36 tie by the midway point. In his Mad Ants debut, while on assignment with the Indiana Pacers, Rakeem Christmas led all scorers with 18 points and 6 rebounds at halftime. For the Raptors 905, Melvin Johnson III led with 7 points off the bench.
A dominant run by the home team gave way to an eleven point advantage heading into the final quarter of play. As time wound down, with just over thirty seconds left in regulation, the score remained locked at 80 apiece. After a turnover by Raptors 905’s Lucas Nogueira, the Mad Ants regained possession and with an inbound pass to Thames, they were able to come out on top with a shot that cleared just as the buzzer sounded. Leading all scorers on the night, Christmas finished his night with 24 points and 7 rebounds, while CJ Fair ended with 19 points and 9 rebounds. After his heroic three-point shot, Thames finished with 17 points for opening night.
For the Raptors 905, Scott Suggs led with 20 points and Bruno Caboclo concluded his night with a double-double, good for 16 points and 13 rebounds.
The Mad Ants remain at home tomorrow, November 15th for a Sunday match-up with the Raptors 905 tipping at 5:00 p.m. Fans can purchase Mad Ants tickets anytime, which start at just $6, at the Memorial Coliseum Box Office, by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000.
About the Fort Wayne Mad Ants and the NBA Development League
The Fort Wayne Mad Ants, presented by Lutheran Health Network, are the NBA Development affiliate of the NBA Indiana Pacers. Established in 2007, the Mad Ants have marked their success in back-to-back Championship appearances, coming out on top in 2014 and returning to the Championship series in 2015. The 2014-2015 season also named the Mad Ants as the NBA Development League Development Champions, which recognizes the team that best embodies the NBA D-League’s goals of developing NBA-caliber basketball talent through call-ups and assignments. 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 19 teams with direct affiliations with NBA franchises for the 2015-16 season, the league offers elite professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. An all-time high 38 percent of all NBA players at the end of the 2014-15 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 on fortwayne.gleague.nba.com.
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