AUSTIN – In a game that featured just two lead changes, but a back-and-forth feel, caused 5,000+ Austin fans to stress momentarily.
Luckily a 36-point fourth quarter helped Austin pull half a game back of first place in the division behind the Texas Legends and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
Arizona product Nick Johnson scored seven of his 15 points a little over three minutes into the fourth to help the Spurs take command of this game, while Hanlan added 10 of his team-high 19 in the fourth as well.
OFFICIAL BOX SCORE | GAME BOOK | ROSTER | SCHEDULE
THE BASICS
- How to Watch: Facebook Live – Austin Spurs Fan Page
- Score: Grand Rapids Drive 93, Austin Spurs 104
- Records: Drive (14-17) | Spurs (17-12)
- Date: Saturday, January 20 | 7:00 p.m. tip-off CST
- Location: H-E-B Center at Cedar Park | Austin, TX
- Attendance: 5,099
- Officials: John Butler, Wesley Ford, Marleah Vidal
- Get Social: Twitter – @spursonsixth| Facebook – Spurs on Sixth
TURNING POINT
After holding the Drive to just 13 first quarter points and holding a 10-point lead at the break, Grand Rapids came out the 2nd half like a brand-new team; taking a three-point lead to the fourth quarter but the Drive ultimately fell by double-digits on the road in Austin.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Austin shot 51 percent (41-for-80) from the floor, while the Drive were a little less efficient at 38-of-82 (46 percent) from the floor.
- The Spurs went 12-of-31 (39 percent) from beyond the arc in the double-digit victory and shot a nice 10-of-13 (77 percent) from the charity stripe. The Drive, meanwhile, were 8-of-26 (31 percent) from downtown and went an impressive 9-for-10 (90 percent) from the free throw line.
- Austin out-did Grand Rapids in pretty much every statistical category Saturday; outrebounded 39-35, recorded more assists (22-18), and registered more steals (12-8).
- Both teams finished with five total blocked shots, but the Spurs totaled 14 team turnovers while the Drive recorded 19.
NOTABLES
- Olivier Hanlan led the way for Austin; recording 19 points and a team-high four assists; also shot 7-of-11 from the floor, including 3-of-5 from downtown.
- Two-way players Darrun Hilliard and Derrick White combined for 25 points, five rebounds, four dimes, and a pair of steals on 10-of-20 shooting (50 percent).
- Amida Brimah added 12 points off the bench on a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor; also added four rebounds, a trio of blocked shots, and a steal.
- Bronson Koenig led the way for Grand Rapids with 20 points off the bench in just 26 minutes; also pulled down three rebounds and shot 4-of-11 from beyond-the-arc.
- With the win, the Spurs now have a two-game win streak and have won six of their past 10. Austin is currently 0.5 games back of the Southwest Division duo leaders Texas Legends and Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
UP NEXT
The Spurs have three days off before heading to the west coast for another matchup against the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario.
Tipoff is on January 24th at 9:00 p.m. CST. The Clippers came away with a 94-92 victory a month ago versus the Spurs in Austin.
