D-Fenders Top The Jam On Bakersfield’s Opening Night

Bakersfield, California, Nov. 26 – Jackie Manuel turned in a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles D-Fenders to a 90-84 victory over the Bakersfield Jam on Sunday at the Rabobank Arena.

L.A. owned the second quarter with the biggest lead of the game at eight points but gritty determination kept the Jam in it. In the third quarter, No. 1 draft pick Brandon Bowman contributed two steals and the Jam’s first slam dunk of the season.

“It was an even game until the end,” Bowman said. “We turned the ball over too much.”

In the fourth quarter, the D-Fender’s rebounding proved to be too much. The D-Fenders had 47 total rebounds to Bakersfield’s 27.

“It is still early,” Bakersfield’s head coach Jim Harrick said. “We need to do what we need to do and one of those things is run our offense better.”

The Jam went 82 percent from the line. Andre McCollum led Bakersfield with 20 points.

“I expected the Jam to be well coached and disciplined” said D-Fenders head coach Dan Panaggio. “And they were.”

Bakersfield will have a chance to avenge their loss against the D-Fenders Tuesday, Nov. 28 at the STAPLES Center at 3:30 p.m.