Huntsville Collects Win Over Columbus
HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Nov. 30 -- With 36 seconds left in the game, the Huntsville Flight missed three possible game-winning shots and Columbus Riverdragons guard Stais Boseman went 3-for-4 at the line to preserve the seven-point lead and secure an 84-77 win Friday night at the Von Braun Center.
"Tremaine Fowlkes played well for us," said Columbus head coach Jeff Malone. "This was a great win for us as we played a team that we are very compatible against."
The Riverdragons (4-2) placed three players in double figures with Fowlkes leading all players with 22 points, Gabe Muoneke scoring 17 and Nate Johnson -- who missed the last three minutes due to ankle sprain but played the final 30 seconds -- adding 12.
The Flight (2-4) placed three players in double figures as Kelvin Price, Shelly Clark and Terrance Roberson each scored 13 points. Clark also led all players with eight rebounds.
"In the last minutes of the game, we just couldn't get our shots to drop," said Clark. "We had the chance to tie and maybe win, but we couldn't get the ball through the hoop."
After a tight first half that saw Huntsville take a two-point lead (31-29) into the halftime break, Columbus responded with a 10-3 run to take a 39-34 lead at the seven-minute mark of the third quarter. Huntsville's Doc Martin drained a 3-pointer (his fifth straight of the season) to pull the team to within two, but the Flight could get no closer as the Riverdragons pulled away and finished the quarter with a 55-51 lead.
Huntsville opened the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run to take a 58-55 lead; however, Columbus retook the lead sinking its next three shots. The Flight would come no closer than four-points down.
Huntsville hosts the North Charleston Lowgators on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. in the Von Braun Center. The Columbus Riverdragons return home to host the Asheville Altitude on Dec. 3.
Quotes
Huntsville Flight head coach Bob Thornton: "It was a good game and a hard loss. We have to hit those shots at the end of the game and work on preserving the lead."
Huntsville Flight forward Shelly Clark: "In the last minutes of the game we just couldn't get our shots to drop. We had the chance to tie and maybe win, but we couldn't get the ball through the hoop."
Columbus Riverdragons head coach Jeff Malone: "Tremaine Fowlkes played well for us. He's tough to guard and down the stretch really came through. Johnny Phillps also showed tonight and will be another guy we'll turn to down the stretch. We need to become better shooting free throws and rebounding."
Columbus Riverdragons forward Tremaine Fowlkes: "We fought to win this game and stepped up in the fourth quarter when we really had to."
