66ers Unplug Energy To Split Back-To-Back Set
Behind double-doubles from Chris Richard and Mustafa Shakur, the Tulsa 66ers rallied to win the second game of the back-to-back set with the Iowa Energy 111-87 Friday night at the Tulsa Convention Center. Richard finished with 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, while Shakur had 18 points and 10 boards, to go along with eight assists.
“We really showed a lot of pride against a good team tonight,” 66ers Head Coach Nate Tibbetts said. “Our effort was very good on the defensive end and on the glass.”
The Energy shot out to an early lead after two 66ers turnovers to start the game, taking a 10-5 edge after a Jeff Trepagnier break away dunk with 6:19 remaining in the first quarter. But the 66ers battled back with an 8-2 run, led 13-12 after a Larry Owens jumper at the 2:42 mark and never trailed again. Tulsa shot 36 percent (9-25) in the period, while holding the Energy to 29.2 percent (7-24) from the field.
Moses Ehambe scored 10 points in the second quarter, including a three-pointer that capped off a 9-3 run with 1:43 remaining in the first half, that gave the 66ers a 45-33 lead. Tulsa outscored the Energy 27-16 in the period, and led 48-25 heading into halftime.
Led by Curtis Stinson with eight third quarter points, the Energy managed to get back into the game following a 16-7 run that cut the 66ers lead to 67-64 with 1:24 left in the period. Though the Energy shot 58.8 percent (10-17) in the quarter, 10 points in the period by Owens and a lay up in the final seconds by Shakur pushed the Tulsa lead back to six heading into the fourth quarter.
After a Courtney Sims three-point play with 8:54 remaining in the game moved the Energy to within 74-70, the 66ers blasted into a 12-0 run capped by seven straight points by Richard, vaulting the lead back to 86-70 for Tulsa. Cecil Brown scored 11 points in the final quarter, as the 66ers shot 13-for-20 from the field, and outscored the Energy 41-23 in the period.
The 66ers moved to 13-11 on the season. Led by Richard and Shakur, they finished with six players in double digit scoring. Ehambe shot 4-for-7 from three-point range en route to his game-high 21 points off the bench, while Brown contributed 19 points. Owens added 15 points and Deron Washington finished with 10 points.
The Energy dropped to 21-6, and were led by Stinson who finished with 18 points and six assists. Othyus Jeffers added 14 points, while Earl Barron and Trepagnier each had 13. Marvin Phillips put up 10 points and grabbed seven boards off the bench.
The 66ers will stay home to face the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Sunday, Jan. 31 before heading out on a five-game road trip prior to the All-Star Break. The Energy continue their road swing in Fort Wayne on Sunday before playing the BayHawks in Erie on Wednesday, Feb. 3.
Updated 01-30-2010
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