Bobcats Bounce Back With A Win Over Dallas

SALT LAKE CITY, July 18, 2005 – Matt Carroll scored a game-high 20 points to lead three other Bobcats players in double figures as Charlotte improved to 2-1 in the 2005 Rocky Mountain Revue with an 85-79 victory over Dallas.

Raymond Felton and Antonio Meeking scored 15 points each, while Bernard Robinson chipped in with 12 points to round out the Bobcats that scored in double digits. Felton also added five assists, three rebounds and two steals after sitting out Saturday’s game with a strained left groin.

“I thought our guys came out and competed today,” said Bobcats assistant coach John-Blair Bickerstaff. “We executed our offensive sets, which is something we didn’t do late in the Utah game on Saturday night.”

Charlotte jumped out to an early 8-2 lead in the first quarter behind consecutive baskets by Sean May (four points), Robert Little (five points), Carroll and Felton. Dallas immediately responded with an 8-2 run of its own to close to within 11-10. Charlotte held the lead after a Meeking free throw and Felton jump shot with 5:10 left to play. The teams would exchange baskets over the next four minutes to end the quarter tied at 20-20.

Carroll, who scored 10 of his 20 points in the game’s decisive second quarter, recorded nine consecutive points over the final two minutes of the period. Charlotte led 39-36 following a Dallas timeout at the 2:08 mark, setting the stage for Carroll’s offensive run.

After a Maverick free throw by former N.C. State standout Josh Powell, Carroll let sail a 15-foot jump shot from the left corner. He followed that basket with a three-pointer from the top of the arc and back-to-back layups to push the Bobcats in front, 48-40. Terrance Simmons (four points) made a jumper at the buzzer to give Charlotte a 50-40 advantage going into halftime after outscoring Dallas, 30-20 in the quarter.

“I didn’t realize I had scored that many points so quickly,” said Carroll after being notified of his offensive stretch. “I just found a rhythm in the flow of our offense, and my teammates kept finding me in scoring positions.”

Charlotte and Dallas played even in the third quarter, with the Bobcats holding a 10-point advantage. By the 8:12 mark of the fourth quarter, Charlotte had extended its lead to 71-58 and held off a late Dallas charge to secure the victory.

The Mavericks had six players reach double-figure scoring, led by Powell’s 14 points and Pavel Podkolzin’s 12 points.

Charlotte will next play San Antonio on Tuesday.

Injury Note: Forward Sean May suffered a right ankle sprain early in the first quarter and did not return to action. He is listed as probable for tomorrow’s contest with San Antonio.