CEDAR PARK – Despite a strong fourth quarter rally the Austin Spurs couldn’t complete their major comeback, falling to the Greensboro Swarm, 105-99.
Austin was led by Jarell Eddie’s strong performance, as the forward scored 20 points to go along with three rebounds, two assists and four steals. Cory Jefferson recorded his first double-double of the season, finishing with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Patricio Garino nearly double-doubled with 18 points and nine rebounds. Charles Garcia and Demetri McCamey both finished with 14 points each.
For Greensboro, top D-League prospect Xavier Munford put up 25 points, nine rebounds and five assists in 39 minutes. Former Phoenix Suns guard Archie Goodwin had 19 points and five rebounds, while Perry Ellis had 18 points and eight rebounds. Mike Tobey managed a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds in 30 minutes.
The first quarter started competitively with the lead being exchanged nine times in the first 12 minutes, as the Spurs hung on to a 28-25 lead to end the quarter.
Austin would push their lead to five on a jumper by Cheick Diallo, which would be their largest lead of the night. The Swarm followed Diallo’s basket with a 25-7 run fueled by five 3-pointers, to go up 50-35 midway through the second quarter. The Spurs would eventually get their offensive woes sorted out, going into halftime down 57-47.
Goodwin and Tobey combined for 16 points in the third quarter, pushing the Swarm’s lead to as many as 19 points, before a pair of free throws by Garcia put the Spurs down 86-69 heading into the fourth.
An Ellis 3-pointer gave Greensboro a 100-83 lead with just under four minutes remaining in the game, but Austin went on a 3-point barrage to fuel a quick 14-0 run, making it a three-point game with 90 seconds left. Munford would nail a floater to end the Spurs run, before Greensboro sealed the game with free throws, leading to the final score of 105-99.
It will be a quick turnaround for the Austin Spurs (4-3) as they take on the struggling Salt Lake City Stars (1-8) tomorrow evening at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. CST with the game being broadcasted simultaneously on Facebook Live.
