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Toros bench sparks a victory

February 10, 2006 - NBA G League (G League)
Tulsa 66ers News Release


TULSA, Okla. - The Tulsa 66ers and the Austin Toros played a game of runs Friday night at the Expo Square Pavilion in Tulsa. But, it was the Toros who ran with it and bullied Tulsa to a 97-87 win.

The Toros tore into the game shooting a sizzling 72 percent from the field in the opening quarter on 13-of-18 shooting. Austin was paced in the first by Toros guard Ezra Williams, who finished with 12 points, and 10 of his 12 in the first quarter. Austin led 33-18 at the end of the first quarter.

There was one bright spot in the opening quarter for Tulsa as guard John Lucas III, fresh off his pair of 10-day contracts with the Houston Rockets, shot 3-of-5 from the field and had six first-quarter points. Austin guard Julius Hodge, recently assigned to the Toros by the Denver Nuggets, checked in the game with 2:50 left in the quarter. Hodge led the bench and the team with 22 points for the night. Fifty-five percent of Austin's final score was shot from the bench.

Lucas continued to lead the way for the 66ers as he re-entered the game at the 8:30 mark of the second quarter and Tulsa was trailing by their biggest deficit of the night, 39-22. From that point on, the first half was owned by Tulsa as they went on a 22-13 run and closed Austin's lead to only eight at half and walked into the locker room with 52-44 on the board.

Tulsa guard Desmon Farmer, who led all scorers with 26 points, and Lucas, who finished with 19 points and six assists, came out to the third quarter strongly as they knocked down three three-pointers in a row to open the second half. It is then that Tulsa took their first lead at 53-52 with 10:31 left in the quarter.

The run would grow to 13-0 as Tulsa held Austin scoreless for the first 4:33 of the second half until Toros forward Marcus Fizer, who finished the contest with 17 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists, hit two free throws with 7:27 remaining, cutting the 66ers lead to 57-54.

Austin was up for the challenge as they answered Tulsa's run with one of their own and held the 66ers scoreless with 4:50 remaining in the third and the score was put at 63-57. The Toros would take a 69-63 lead to the fourth.

Austin made a living from the free throw line in the fourth quarter, much as they did all night, scoring 28 points from the charity stripe on 28-of-39, in comparison to Tulsa who shot just 6-of-13 from the line. The Toros used their stellar shooting from the field in the beginning and then from the line down the stretch to close out the 66ers 97-87.

"I was really disappointed," said Tulsa 66ers head coach Joey Meyer. "I expected us to play much better tonight. However, when you take 22 three-pointers and only 13 free throws and then allow the other team 39 free throws, that's not a good combination."

But, there was a highlight to Tulsa's home court. David Lattin, original member of the Texas-Western team depicted in the movie "Glory Road" was on hand tonight, serving as the Honorary Coach for the 66ers. Lattin was honored for his involvement in an event that changed basketball history during a turbulent time in the United States. Lattin's Texas-Western team will forever be immortalized in the movies as they were the first team to win a NCAA championship with an all-black starting five.

Other Tulsans were also honored for their contributions to the Tulsa community during a halftime ceremony on center court. Those honored included; Senator Maxine Horner, Commissioner Wilbert Collins, Eddie Faye Gates, Reverend Melvin Easiley, Councilor Jack Henderson, Councilor Roscoe Turner, Joyce Rogers, Jo Bright, Bishop Harold Jones and the late Ed Lacy whose wife accepted on his behalf.

Tulsa will take the home court again on Saturday as they take on the Ft. Worth Flyers for the first time at the Pavilion. Tipoff for the 66ers is set for 2 p.m. Cascia Hall and Lincoln Christian high schools will share the court with the varsity girls' teams tipping off at 12 p.m. and the varsity boys immediately following the Tulsa 66ers game. Tickets bought for Saturday will be good for admission to all three games.

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