SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
In a game that included 21 lead changes, it was a clutch second-half effort by D.J. Strawberry that lifted the Reno Bighorns to a 122-116 overtime victory over the Idaho Stampede Tuesday afternoon in the Reno Events Center.
Reno’s Dave Noel missed a field goal attempt as time expired with the game tied in the fourth quarter to force overtime. In the extra frame, though, the Bighorns (12-16) outscored the Stampede (13-15) 17-11 to collect the victory in the front end of back-to-back matchups between the two teams.
Strawberry scored just six points in 13 minutes of action in the first half, but he would come to life in second half to carry Reno to the win. Strawberry finished with 27 points, eight assists and six steals. He connected on 12-of-22 attempts from the floor, including 3-of-5 three-point tries.
Desmon Farmer led all scorers with 31 points, while Rod Benson recorded another double-double with 18 points and 10 boards.
All five Idaho starters scored in double figures, led by a 29-point effort from Donnell Taylor. The remaining four Stampede starters all registered double-doubles on the day.
Idaho out-rebounded Reno 58-43, though the Bighorns shot 50 percent (50-of-100) from the floor on Tuesday.
The two teams will hook-up again on Wednesday night. Tip-time is set for 7 p.m. in the Reno Events Center, as the Bighorns celebrate Reno Rodeo Night, with a portion of the proceeds from select tickets going to the Reno Rodeo Foundation. 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.
