66ers Bench Leads Comeback Over Toros, Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive
AUSTIN, Texas, March 31, 2010 – Moses Ehambe scored a career-high 29 points, including going 8-for-11 from three-point range, as the Tulsa 66ers (26-21) defeated the Austin Toros109-104 Wednesday night at the Austin Convention Center. The 66ers bench outscored the Toros 42-18 in the fourth quarter to overcome a 23-point deficit in the victory. Oklahoma City Thunder assignees Byron Mullens and Mustafa Shakur combined for 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals in the win.
The 66ers built an early 8-4 lead after a Shakur steal and dunk with 8:42 remaining in the first quarter. The Toros then outscored Tulsa 26-8 the rest of the period, and went into the break with a 30-16 lead. Eddie Basden scored 11 first quarter points, as the Toros shot 12-for-22, while the 66ers committed 11 turnovers and shot 7-for-17 in the period.
Both teams were hot from the field in the second quarter, as each shot 10-for-17 (58.8 percent). Larry Owens kept the 66ers in the game with six points in the quarter, but Marcus Williams scored 10 points and Austin shot 7-of-12 from the free throw line to take a 57-42 lead into halftime.
Tulsa looked like they were going to make a run midway through the third quarter, cutting the Toros lead to 68-56 after a Mullens hook shot and Shakur lay up with 5:48 on the clock. But Austin took control of the contest, going on a 13-2 run capped by a Basden free throw to move ahead 81-58 with 2:31 left in the quarter. The Toros went into the final quarter ahead 86-67 after shooting 10-for-18 from the field in the period, led by Marcus Williams with 13 third quarter points and out rebounding the 66ers 14-7. Shakur and Deron Washington each scored six in the quarter for Tulsa, who shot 10-for-22.
With the 66ers down 92-69 and 10:40 left in the game, three dunks by Latavious Williams and a three-pointer by newcomer JaJuan Smith sparked a 16-3 run for Tulsa that cut the Toros lead to 95-85 with 5:40 remaining. A Wink Adams jumper with 4:27 left in the game pulled the 66ers to within 100-90, and sparked a 21-4 run to finish the game and seal the win. Ehambe connected on four three-pointers and scored 15 points during the final five minutes of the contest, and 21 points in the fourth quarter, as Tulsa shot 68.2 percent (15-of-22) and forced eight turnovers by the Toros in the period. Austin connected on 5-of-14 shots in the quarter.
Led by Ehambe, the 66ers finished with five players scoring in double figures. Latavious Williams contributed 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench, while Washington added 13 points. DeVon Hardin had 11 points and two blocks, while Mullens finished with 10 points and two steals.
The Toros finished with six players in double digit scoring, including all five starters. Marcus Williams had a double-double with a team-high 27 points and 10 rebounds, while Dwayne Jones added a double-double of 19 points and 16 boards. Carldell Johnson scored 15 points off the bench, while Basden and Michael Joiner each had 14 points. Curtis Jerrells finished with 10 points in defeat.
The Toros stay home to finish the regular season with a back-to-back set against the Utah Flash on April 2 and 3. The 66ers face the Iowa Energy at the Tulsa Convention Center the same two nights, as both games are scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. . Tulsa then travels to Nevada for the regular season finale to face the Reno Bighorns on Sunday, April 4 at 6 p.m. , a game that was postponed earlier this week due to weather conditions that made travel unsafe.
Updated 04-01-2010
READER COMMENTS
