RENO – Former Austin Spurs forward Lamar Patterson got some sweet revenge against his old squad last night, as the Reno Bighorns completed a fourth quarter comeback to defeat the Spurs in overtime, 108-105.
Patterson had a team-high 26 points for Reno to go with five rebounds and eight assists in 38 minutes. Sacramento Kings assignees Skal Labissiere and Georgios Papagiannis had 17 and 15 points respectively, with Labissiere also recording a double-double with 11 rebounds. Isaiah Cousins had 13 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Reggie Hearn added 12 points in 25 minutes. Will Davis had 10 points off the bench.
Bryn Forbes led the Austin Spurs once again with a game-high 29 points on 7-for-9 shooting from beyond the arc. Forbes also had six rebounds in his 38 minutes. Cory Jefferson and Dejounte Murray both recorded double-doubles for the Spurs. Jefferson had 17 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out in 20 minutes. Murray had 17 points and 11 rebounds, while also recording eight assists. Charles Garcia chipped in 14 points off the bench.
The Spurs came out on fire to start the game, going on an 11-2 run behind nine points from Forbes. Reno would eventually manage to get their offense clicking, but seven first quarter turnovers kept Austin ahead to end the first.
A layup by Davis vaulted the Bighorns into the lead early in the second quarter, but Murray would fuel a mini-run for the Spurs to head into halftime up 51-44.
Jefferson caught fire in the third, scoring 14 of his 17 points in the frame. His outburst would push the Spurs lead to as many as 12 before heading into the fourth up 80-71.
Garcia hit a hook shot with 5:01 remaining in the fourth to put the Austin Spurs up 10. Patterson immediately caught fire as he scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to bring Reno within one. Murray would atone for several crucial turnovers down the stretch by hitting a floater in the lane to put Austin up three, before Patterson hit swished a long 3-pointer to force overtime.
In the extra period, Forbes would start things off with a 3-pointer to regain the lead for Austin. Turnovers again doomed the Spurs in overtime, as Reno sealed the game at the free throw line throughout the three minute period, before Forbes hit one last 3-pointer to make the game 108-105. Austin’s last chance would end on a turnover by Jarell Eddie as he sprinted out to the 3-point line, but lost the ball at mid-court.
With the loss, the Austin Spurs (6-10) fall to eighth in the conference and get a day off before taking on conference rival, the Rio Grand Valley Vipers (11-6) on Friday night. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. CST from the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
