News release from the Mad Ants:
Lucas, Fair Fuel Mad Ants in Win Over Grand Rapids
(February 16, 2016) – The Mad Ants, sponsored by Lutheran Health Network, took down the Grand Rapids Drive, 105-97, on Tuesday, February 16th at the Allen Co. War Memorial Coliseum.
In the first quarter, the Mad Ants and the Drive remained locked in a dead heat, a close competition that consisted of nine ties and seven lead changes. By the quarter’s end, the score was set at a 23-23 tie. Grand Rapids began to pick up their momentum and as their shot accuracy began to increase so did their lead in the second quarter. CJ Fair fueled the Mad Ants on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball, recording a first half double-double good for a team-leading 11 points and ten rebounds. Despite Fair’s stat line, the Mad Ants went into the locker room trailing 57-48.
The Drive began to pull away early in the second half with a double figured lead, but the Mad Ants would begin to put together their comeback, eventually tying the game at 74-all with just less than three minutes remaining in the third quarter. Fair and John Lucas III kept things moving for the Mad Ants into the fourth quarter, leading them to take a late advantage over their visitors around the three-minute mark. That lead would grow and eventually turn into a 105-97 Mad Ants victory over the Drive. Lucas finished the night with a game-leading 26 points. Fair followed with 23 points and 17 rebounds and Walter Lemon Jr. rounded out the late offensive surge with 16 of his own.
For the Drive, Henry Sims finished with 20 points and 7 rebounds and Devin Ebanks followed with 17 points.
Fort Wayne moves to 15-16 on the season, while Grand Rapids falls to 15-15.
The Mad Ants will head out to the West Coast to play the Reno Bighorns on Friday, February 19th at 10:00 p.m. ET. They will follow that with a Sunday, February 21st contest at Los Angeles to play the D-Fenders at 8:00 p.m. ET. 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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