by Ben Strong posts 16 points & 18 rebounds along with 5 steals and a pair of assists and blocks
ERIE, Pennsylvania – The Erie BayHawks (13-19) defeated the Westchester Knicks (9-23) 106-91 in a game that featured 14 lead changes and 13 ties. After the game was knotted at 86 midway through the fourth quarter, the BayHawks scored 16 straight points to run away from the visiting Knicks and have now won six out of their last nine games, including two against Westchester.
Erie started the game on a 9-4 run as four different BayHawks hit field goals. Curry’s second three of the game gave Erie their largest quarter lead at six. An 8-0 Knicks run powered by Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s five points gave Westchester the lead for the first time in the game. The back-and-fourth battle would continue as the two teams were tied at 21 to end the first quarter.
The Knicks jumped out to regain the lead early in the second quarter after making their first two field goals, but a 9-0 BayHawks run behind Jarvis Williams’ six points helped give Erie the lead yet again. Curry, who is third in the NBA Development League in minutes played per game with 38.1, reentered the game after picking up his second foul and hit five straight points. Westchester then used a 19-6 run to take advantage of the quarter. Lenzelle Smith’s tip-in at the buzzer still had Erie trailing 52-49 at the half. Antetokounmpo’s size and athleticism earned him 16 first half points that led all scorers.
Drew Crawford’s four straight points to begin the third frame propelled Erie to a 12-4 run. A collective Knicks effort led by Ben Strong’s (Red Lake Nation) six points would cut the Erie lead to just one with four minutes to go in the third. Westchester was able to eventually tie the game back up after an Antetokounmpo layup, but Erie responded with eight of the games next ten points to take a six point lead heading into the final quarter.
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Westchester’s Darnell Jackson tied the game at 81 with two free throws in the early stages of the fourth. Newly acquired Austin Daye nailed his first three-pointer as a BayHawk to give Erie a momentary lead until Jackson responded with an and-one for the Knicks. At the media timeout midway through the fourth, the game was tied at 86 apiece. After Westchester went ahead by three, Erie used a 16-0 run to ultimately take control of the game and eventually win by double-digits.
Peyton Siva led the way for Erie with a near double-double as he scored 20 points and tallied nine assists. Curry followed closely with 17 of his own and Daye put up nine off the bench in his first D-League game with Erie. All BayHawk starters finished in double-figures.
Westchester was paced by Antetokounmpo’s 18 points as Strong recorded a double-double with 16 points and a game high 18 rebounds. Jackson also snagged a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
