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The Erie BayHawks, coming off one of their best performances of the season in defeating the league-leading Iowa Energy on Sunday, survived a fierce effort from the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the team with the league's worst record, on Thursday night at Tullio Arena to notch a 98-96 win.
Both teams struggled offensively in the first half as the BayHawks shot just 43% and Sioux Falls 37% from the field. Erie managed to build a ten-point lead midway through the second quarter but the Skyforce mounted a 15-4 run in the final six minutes of the half to take a one point lead at halftime, 44-43.
Ivan Johnson scored 16 of his game-high 33 points in the third quarter as Erie again built a seven point lead, only to surrender a 9-2 run by the Skyforce to leave the teams tied at 67 entering the final frame.
It was déjà vu again in the fourth as Erie manufactured an eight point lead with three minutes to play, only to see Sioux Falls pull within two points with twenty-seconds to play. But Sioux Falls was forced to foul Blake Ahearn, the league's best free throw shooter, who buried 5-of-6 foul shots in the game's final 15 seconds to seal the victory for the home team, and improve to 31-18.
Johnson added a game-high 18 rebounds and Nate Linhart joined him with a double-double as he scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Tasmin Mitchell added 23 for Erie and Erik Daniels dropped in 10.
Sioux Falls (10-38) was lead by Raymond Sykes who had 32 points and 11 rebounds, Dominique Coleman added 12 points and 12 rebounds, Sean Marshall netted 20, and Chris McCray chipped in 13.
Erie remains in fifth overall and plays their final game of the regular season on Saturday night versus the Maine Red Claws at Tullio Arena. Tip-off is set for 7pm.
Both teams struggled offensively in the first half as the BayHawks shot just 43% and Sioux Falls 37% from the field. Erie managed to build a ten-point lead midway through the second quarter but the Skyforce mounted a 15-4 run in the final six minutes of the half to take a one point lead at halftime, 44-43.
Ivan Johnson scored 16 of his game-high 33 points in the third quarter as Erie again built a seven point lead, only to surrender a 9-2 run by the Skyforce to leave the teams tied at 67 entering the final frame.
It was déjà vu again in the fourth as Erie manufactured an eight point lead with three minutes to play, only to see Sioux Falls pull within two points with twenty-seconds to play. But Sioux Falls was forced to foul Blake Ahearn, the league's best free throw shooter, who buried 5-of-6 foul shots in the game's final 15 seconds to seal the victory for the home team, and improve to 31-18.
Johnson added a game-high 18 rebounds and Nate Linhart joined him with a double-double as he scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Tasmin Mitchell added 23 for Erie and Erik Daniels dropped in 10.
Sioux Falls (10-38) was lead by Raymond Sykes who had 32 points and 11 rebounds, Dominique Coleman added 12 points and 12 rebounds, Sean Marshall netted 20, and Chris McCray chipped in 13.
Erie remains in fifth overall and plays their final game of the regular season on Saturday night versus the Maine Red Claws at Tullio Arena. Tip-off is set for 7pm.
