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BIGHORNS COMPLETE SWEEP OF THE D-FENDERS
RENO, NV —- The NBA D-League Western Conference Leader Reno Bighorns (30-16) defeated the Los Angeles D-Fenders (26-20) 131-113 Friday night at the Reno Events Center.
Ricky Ledo netted 29 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and added five assists to lead the Bighorns. Erick Green scored 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds and added three assists as David Stockton logged a double-double with 20 points and 10 assists. Sacramento Kings Assignment Player, Duje Dukan, tallied 19 points and seven assists.
Vander Blue led the D-Fenders with 31 points, two rebounds and five assists. Ryan Gomes totaled 23 points, nine rebounds and four assists while Andre Ingram added 18 points and four rebounds for the D-Fenders.
The Bighorns would jump out to an early 9-point lead over the D-Fenders in the first quarter before the D-Fenders would go on a 7-0 run taking their biggest lead of the night with a 28-25 advantage over the Bighorns. Back-to-back threes from Dukan with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter gave Bighorns a 32-30 lead they would never relinquish.
The Bighorns continued to control the game in the second quarter with a 51-41 lead midway through the quarter after going on a 9-0 run. The Bighorns went 9-17 from behind the arc. The D-Fenders chipped away at the Bighorns closing the deficit to 55-50 with 4:30 remaining in the first half. The Bighorns responded with 9-2 run behind threes from Dukan and Ledo to end first half with a 72-59 lead over the D-Fenders.
The Bighorns would continue to maintain their advantage over the D-Fenders entering the third quarter going on an early 9-0 run. Erick Green would go 3-4 from behind the arc in the third. The Bighorns took a 90-73 lead over the D-Fenders with 7:00 remaining in the frame. The Bighorns won the frame 33-30, leading the D-Fenders 105-89 heading into the final quarter. Green scored 13 of his 22 points in the third.
The Bighorns kept control of the game going on an 8-0 run giving the Bighorns their biggest lead of the night with a 124-98 advantage halfway through the fourth quarter. Dukan netted eight points in the quarter. The Bighorns earned a 131-113 win over the D-Fenders, logging their fourth straight home win.
The Bighorns finished the night going 25-51 from three-point range.
The Bighorns will host the Idaho Stampede on Saturday, Mar. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Reno Events Center.
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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 2015-16 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 19 teams with direct affiliations with NBA franchises for the 2015-16 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 2014-15 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.