Jam loses numbers game to Fort Wayne
| Monday, Mar 09 2009 02:28 AM
Last Updated Wednesday, Mar 25 2009 06:16 PM
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Jam forward Terrance Thomas drives on Fort Wayne's Anthony Kent on Sunday at Rabobank Arena.
It's not difficult to pinpoint why the Bakersfield Jam lost 99-94 to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants Sunday at Rabobank Arena. In fact it's as easy as 1-2-3.
"It's points in the paint. It's rebounding and it's transition baskets," Jam coach Scott Roth said. "When we lose it's the same three things that pop up."
A look at the game's final boxscore only verified Roth's assessment.
Fort Wayne (15-25) out-rebounded the Jam 50-33, had 16 more points in the paint, and due to a strong transition game scored eight more fast break points.
Despite all of that, the Jam (20-17) rallied to dig itself out of a 15-point third quarter deficit and grab the lead with 2:22 remaining. But the Mad Ants outscored the Bakersfield 6-2 in the final minute to regain control and escape with the win.
Trey Johnson led the Jam with 26 points and dished out seven assists in his first game back with the team after playing out two 10-day contracts with the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers.
"It was great," Johnson said of his time with the Cavaliers. "It was everything a player like me dreams of. To actually get that call and to go up and play with one of the greatest (LeBron James) and one of my high school teammates (Mo Williams) was a great experience."
Ron Howard had 26 points, nine to rebounds, and six assists to help Fort Wayne snap a three-game losing streak.
Howard scored 12 in the second quarter as the Mad Ants erased a three-point deficit and took command by outscoring the Jam 29-17 in the period.
Fort Wayne ended the first half on a 14-5 tear and went into the lockerroom at the break leading 48-39.
"They (The Mad Ants) played very well throughout the whole game and we were very sluggish," Roth said. "I'm sure some of it was because we had a week off from playing. And they're in the rhythm of playing."
The Jam comeback was fueled by Justin Reed and Terrance Thomas, who combined for 30 second-half points.
Reed scored 21 points, including 11 in the third quarter as Bakersfield stormed back into contention. He also led the Jam with 10 rebounds.
Thomas had 10 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 17.
Twice in the final three minutes the former Baylor University standout made clutch baskets to put the Jam up two. But both times Fort Wayne was quick to respond.
A Thomas finger roll gave Bakersfield a 90-88 advantage with 2:22 remaining.
However, Taj McCullough, who scored 14 of his 18 points in the final quarter answered for the Mad Ants with a strong low post move to tie it.
Thirty-six seconds later Ron Howard worked his way free underneath the basket and scored a layup off an inbounds pass from Walker Russell put Fort Wayne ahead 92-90.
But after Johnson took a pass from Mateen Cleaves and drove the baseline to tie the score again, McCullough was fouled in the act of shooting and made one of two free throw attempts to give the Mad Ants the lead for good.
Russell, the D-League leader in assists, recorded a triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.
The Jam made just four of its first 11 field goal attempts but still managed to pull out to a 13-7 lead midway through the opening period.
The Jam made up for the early cold shooting by aggressively driving to the basket and drawing fouls, which led nine free throw attempts.
