SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
Doug Thomas recorded a double-double and added four blocked shots Saturday night, piloting the Reno Bighorns to a 104-101 victory over the Utah Flash in the Reno Events Center.
A game that featured 10 ties and 20 lead changes fell Reno’s way, marking the Bighorns’ fifth win in their last six games.
The Flash (14-13) led by as many as 12 in the early-going, and Utah took a two-point lead into intermission. Reno (10-13) would come firing back, though, taking the lead for good with just more than nine minutes left to play in the final period.
Thomas finished with 11 points and 10 boards for the Bighorns. Desmon Farmer led all scorers with 27, while Yaroslav Korolev kicked-in 16 points off the bench for Reno.
D.J. Strawberry made his Bighorns debut Saturday night, registering seven points, five boards and five assists. Also making his Reno debut was Will Blalock, who scored nine points with eight assists.
Dontell Jefferson paced the Flash with 22 points and 10 boards. Andre Ingram scored 18, while Bennet Davis came off the bench to pitch-in 16 for Utah.
The Bighorns and Flash will hook-up again on Sunday afternoon in downtown Reno. Sunday’s game will feature $1 dollar hot dogs for fans. Tip-time is set for 3 p.m. in the Reno Events Center. Tickets are on-sale now at www.RenoBighorns.com, the Reno Events Center Box Office, Silver Legacy Box Office, or by visiting any Northern Nevada Ticketmaster location or Web site.
The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA’s official minor league whose teams have direct affiliations to NBA franchises. For the 2009-10 season, the league will feature 16 teams – including the debut of the Maine Red Claws and the Springfield Armor. A proven developer of talent, 20 percent of players in the NBA at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season boasted NBA D-League experience, while the league continues to develop coaches, referees, and front office staff for the NBA and its teams. 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. The NBA D-League also advances the game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA. Throughout the season fans can watch all NBA D-League games on NBA Futurecast, the free live Web-streaming initiative found at nba.com/futurecast.
