Altitude Soars In Columbus

COLUMBUS, Ga., Dec. 24, 2001- Center Paul Grant scored a game-high 20 points and added nine rebounds to lead the Asheville Altitude (11-7) to a 77-65 victory over the Columbus Riverdragons (10-7) in front of 3,421 fans at the Columbus Civic Center and televised nationally on ESPN2.

The Altitude, the hottest team in the NBDL, has won eight of their last nine games and move into a second place tie with the Mobile Revelers (11-7). The Riverdragons have lost their last two games, dropping into third place behind the Altitude and the Revelers.

"I think we concentrated on getting inside and establishing the post-game early," said Grant. "We took advantage of that early in the game and it opened some shots from the outside that a guy like Johnny Hemsley can knock down."

Grant, who has now scored in double-figures a team-high thirteen times, hit 9-of-16 shots from the floor along with four offensive rebounds. The Altitude shot a sizzling 53.2% from the floor with five players scoring in double-figures including Grant (20), LaRue (17), Tate (16), Scruggs (11), and Hemsley (10).

The Riverdragons were led by Gabe Muoneke and Ray Tutt, each with fourteen points. Tremaine Fowlkes, the Riverdragons' leading scorer and the NBDL's Player of the Month for November, was held to 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting. The Riverdragons struggled from the floor, hitting 33.3% (23-69) of their shots.

"We were all over the place," said Riverdragons coach Jeff Malone. "We just never had that burst of energy. I don't know why. Sometimes as a team when things go bad we start feeling sorry for ourselves and we have to get out of that mode."

Tutt, who has started at shooting guard the last three games, has scored in double-figures in four of his last five games.

Riverdragons' center Kareem Poole scored a season-high nine points along while pulling down a game-high 14 rebounds but had a difficult time containing Grant.

The Altitude led most of the game, trailing just once in the first half, 13-12, with 4:06 to play in the first quarter. The Altitude answered with 15-8 run capped with a 17-foot jumper by Lee Scruggs to give the Altitude a lead 65-58 with 7:06 to play in the quarter.

The Altitude led 37-33 at the half led by Paul Grant and Rusty LaRue, each with ten points. LaRue hit all three of his three-point attempts in the first half and finished the game 4-4 from behind the arc.

The Altitude opened the third quarter on a 5-0 run. Paul Grant gave the Altitude a nine point lead, 42-33, with 9:15 to play in the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Riverdragons chipped the lead to one, 65-64, on a three-point play by Gabe Muoneke with 5:40 to play in regulation. The Altitude answered with a 12-1 run to close out the game and defeated the Riverdragons for the first time in three meetings this season.

Prior to the game, Essential Recording artist True Vibe performed, signed autographs and sang the National Anthem. True Vibe's self-titled debut album was the year's highest-selling debut when it was released in May and included the multi-format number one and international hit single "Now and Forever."

True Vibe will give special performances at four National Basketball Development League games (Dec. 24 – Dec. 27) to celebrate the holidays. Following its performance in Columbus, the pop quartet will perform at three other NBDL games including stops in Roanoke, Va. on Christmas Day; in North Charleston, S.C. on Dec. 26; and in Greenville, S.C. on Dec. 27.

The Riverdragons play two of their next three on the road, making their first trip of the season to Greenville on Thursday, Dec. 27. That game will also be televised by ESPN2. Also this Thursday, the Altitude heads to Huntsville to face the Flight at the Von Braun Center.

The Riverdragons do not play their next home game until the New Year, hosting the first-place North Charleston Lowgators on Jan. 2, 2002 at the Columbus Civic Center.