Reno Bighorns vs. Austin Spurs December 21, 2016

Wednesday, December 22, 2016                                                                                      Kyle Jones: kjones@renobighorns.com

BIGHORNS WIN OVERTIME THRILLER AGAINST AUSTIN

RENO, Nev. —- The Reno Bighorns (5-10) defeated the Austin Spurs (6-10) 108-105 Wednesday night at the Reno Events Center in overtime.

Sacramento Kings Affiliate Player Lamar Patterson led the Bighorns with 26 points, five rebounds and eight assists while Kings assignment player Skal Labissiere logged a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Kings assignee Georgios Papagiannis notched 15 points and nine rebounds as Reggie Hearn poured in 12 points and grabbed three rebounds.

Bryn Forbes paced the Spurs with 29 points and six rebounds while Dejounte Murray recorded a double-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.

The Spurs took control of the game early, leading the Bighorns by nine at the mid-way point of the first quarter. The Bighorns rallied back to close the deficit to four with 3:45 to play in the first frame. The Spurs won the frame 29-26. Papagiannis and Labissiere scored five points each.

The Bighorns kept the Spurs scoreless the first the first four and a half minutes of the second frame going on a 7-0 run to take a one-point advantage over the Spurs. The Spurs would retake control of the lead after Charles-Jean stepped to the line after being fouled by Labissiere. The Bighorns edged the Spurs 38-37 with 4:48 to play in the first half. The teams exchanged buckets with Hearn hitting a three with .30 in play before Murray scored a layup to give the Spurs a 51-44 lead heading into the locker room at the half.

The Bighorn chipped away at Austin’s lead tying the game at 58 at the 7:31 mark in the third quarter. Hearn sunk a three to give the Bighorns a three-point lead before the Spurs responded with a 12-3 run to hold a 70-63 lead with 3:58 on the clock. Despite threes from Pe’Shon Howard and Hearn, the Spurs had a 80-71 lead at the end of the third frame.

Forbes opened up the fourth quarter with a triple to give the Spurs a 12-point lead, their largest lead of the night. The teams battled for control of the game before Renaldo Major and Patterson scored triples less than a minute apart to make it a four-point with 3:12 to play in regulation. Spurs’ McCamey scored a free-throw with 2:26 to play in regulation. Labissiere and Patterson would both dunk giving the Bighorns a one point deficit at the 1:38 mark . Murray hit a jumper before Patterson scored a triple to knot the score up at 98 to force the game into overtime. The Bighorns won the fourth frame 27-18 behind Patterson’s 13 points (5-7 FG, 2-2 3P).

Forbes sank a three early in the overtime frame to give Austin the lead. A jumper from Labissiere and a free-throw from Patterson tied the game a 101 before Cousins hit a jump shot and two free-throws to give the Bighorns a 105-101 lead with .43 in play. Jefferson sank a free-throw after being fouled by Papagiannis before Hearn was fouled twice making three free-throws giving the Bighorns a 108-102 lead. Forbes hit a three with .58 remaining in play. The Spurs would in-bound the ball but remained scoreless on the final possession securing a 108-105 Bighorns victory over the Spurs.

The Bighorns will next travel to Oklahoma to face the Oklahoma City Blue on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 5 P.M.

–bighorns—

About the Reno Bighorns:

The Reno Bighorns are a member of the NBA Development League, the official minor league of the NBA. The Bighorns are affiliated with the Sacramento Kings. Season tickets for the 2016-17 season are on sale now! For more information, call the Bighorns front office at 775-853-8220 or visit RenoBighorns.com. Follow us on Twitter @renobighorns and “like” the Bighorns on Facebook at facebook.com/bighornshoops. The NBA Development League is the NBA’s official minor league, preparing players, coaches, officials, trainers, and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory. Featuring 22 teams with direct affiliations with NBA franchises for the 2016-17 season, the league offers elite professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. An all-time high 38 percent of all NBA players at the end of the 2015-16 season boasted NBA D-League experience. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. Fans can watch all NBA D-League games on nbadleague.com.