Skyforce Crushes Mad Ants

Sioux Falls 116, Fort Wayne 88

SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Dec. 25 – J.C. Mathis posted his first double-double of the season with 29 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Sioux Falls Skyforce to an easy 116-88 victory over the visiting Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Mathis easily had his best game in a Skyforce uniform as he scored from everywhere on the floor to lead Sioux Falls to their third straight Christmas night victory in front of a festive crowd of 4,236 fans.

“(J.C. Mathis) played a great game,” said Skyforce head coach Nate Tibbetts. “With guys going overseas everyone else gets a chance to step up and he did that tonight.”

Sioux Falls came out with a lot of energy and built a 13-point lead towards the end of the first quarter. Mathis was hot early on as he surpassed his season average (3.6 ppg) just two minutes into the game as he finished the opening quarter with 14 points. The Skyforce never trailed in a game that they led by as many as 30 points in the fourth quarter.

Fort Wayne struggled to make baskets all night as they finished the night shooting 34.5% (30-of-87) from the field. The lone bright spot for Fort Wayne was the play of newly acquired guard Sammy Mejia who scored a team-high 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds in only his second game with the team.

The Skyforce had seven players score in double figures including all five starters. Chris Alexander had a solid debut with 10 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots.

Sioux Falls travels to Iowa to take on the Energy Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. CT. Fort Wayne travels back home to take on the Rio Grande Valley Vipers Friday night at 7:30 p.m. ET.