SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
Reno’s bid to earn a spot in the NBA D-League playoffs took a giant leap forward Friday night, as the Bighorns clawed their way to a 110-103 victory over the Utah Flash in the McKay Events Center.
With less than one month remaining in the regular season and both teams battling for a playoff berth, the Bighorns (18-19) turned to newly-acquired Richie Frahm to lift them to the road victory. From hit 7-of-8 tries from beyond the three-point arc en route to 28 points.
Frahm, who hit 6-of-7 three-point attempts last Sunday, led four Bighorns in double figures. A pair of Bighorns registered double-doubles, with Rod Benson collecting 21 points and 14 boards, and Desmon Farmer kicking-in 19 points and 10 assists.
Reno led by 16 at the break, but the Flash (20-18) would come alive in the third quarter, cutting the lead to just four entering the final period of play. Utah would take a lead with 6:13 remaining in the game, but the Bighorns would outscore the Flash 22-14 the rest of the way to pick-up the victory.
Kevin Kruger paced the Flash with 21 points, and Carlos Wheeler recorded 13 points and 11 points off the bench for Utah.
Reno’s hunt for the postseason continues on Sunday evening. The Bighorns will play host to the Springfield Armor at 5 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.
