Patriots Burned by Flame

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., Dec. 22-- The Fayetteville Patriots rode center Rod Riley to a five-point lead late in the fourth quarter, only to surrender a 106-95 to the Florida Flame on Thursday. Florida bolstered its record to a league-leading 7-2. The Patriots have dropped seven in a row, and find themselves in last place with a 2-9 record.

"It's pretty simple really," said Patriots assistant coach Casey Owens. "We're a team that's in search of its identity. Playing 45 minutes of good basketball does nothing but get you beat." Owens filled in for head coach Mike Brown, who was stranded in New York because of the on-going transit strike.

Riley piled up 11 first-quarter points as Fayetteville built an early lead. Led by Theron Smith, Florida responded with a run that tied the game by the end of the period.

In the third quarter, Kaniel Dickens was the main spark, pouring in 13 points as the Patriots posted a four-point lead entering the final stanza. Fayetteville held its lead until the middle of the fourth quarter, but the Patriots managed just three points in the final 6:16. Meanwhile, Andre Barrett scored nine points to lead the Flame's 20-4 game-closing run.

Riley finished with 25 points to lead the Patriots. Dickens added 20 and Norm Richardson chipped in 19.

Barrett scored 26 points, Bracey Wright added 19, while Smith and Austin Nichols scored 16 each for the Flame.

"We have to come together as a coaching staff and find the players that know what it takes to put together a complete game," Owens said. "Key turnovers, we can't get the ball in bounds, bad shot selection -- I don't think it's X's and O's. Maybe we just need to leave our veterans on the floor a little longer. We're definitely not happy."

The teams face each other again in Fayetteville on Friday, Dec. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 31.