Springfield’s James Mays posted a double-double for the with a 23 points and 11 rebounds.
James Mays, left, led the Springfield Armor with 23 points in a 94-91 overtime win over the Charge in Canton, Ohio, Saturday night.
By JIM SMITH
CANTON, Ohio – In a game filled with numerous scoring streaks, double-double efforts by four players and overtime, the Springfield Armor opened the NBA D-League season with 94-91 win over the Canton Charge at the Civic Center Saturday night.
Christian Polk began the overtime by sinking a 3-pointer to provide Springfield with a lead it refused to relinquish. The Armor outscored the Charge 9-6 in the extra time.
Canton’s Antoine Agudio launched a 3-pointer successfully from the corner at the buzzer to force overtime.
Springfield’s James Mays posted a double-double for the with a 23 points and 11 rebounds. Ben Uzoh (16 points), Willie Reed (14), Polk (14) and Carleton Scott (13) also connected for double figures in scoring.
Kevin Jones had a game-high 31 points for the Charge (0-2).
A first quarter highlighted with each team having unanswered scoring streaks, a seven-point run for the Armor and a 13-point run for Canton ended with the Charge ahead 21-16.
Canton took advantage of shooting 7 for 7 from the foul line in the first quarter while the Armor missed their only two attempts.
Neither team shot particularly well from the field in the first quarter – Charge (38.9 percent) and Armor (33.3 percent).
Scott led the Armor first-period scoring with eight points. Jones led all first period efforts with 12 points and 5 rebounds for Canton.
Early in the 2nd quarter the Charge, using quick, accurate ball movement, expanded their lead to 10 points at 6:30.
Following a time out called by Armor coach Bob MacKinnon, Springfield rattled off 11 unanswered points to take a 1-point lead.
Canton halted the Armor barrage on a basket by Arinze Onuaku followed up by a 3-pointer at the shot clock buzzer by Jones with 1:44 remaining in the period.
At the half the Charge had built up a 5-point lead 47-42, behind Jones’ 21 points and 10 rebounds earning him his second double-double in his first two games this season. The Armor were led by Scott’s 11 points and Willie Reed’s 10. Uzoh had 5 assists by halftime.
In the opening five minutes of the third quarter Canton managed to build a 9-point margin that was answered by an Armor effort to whittle the lead to 2 points with 3:32 remaining.
After exchanging baskets for several transitions, and aided by a technical foul called on Reed for grabbing the net, the Charge rebuilt a seven-point lead 74-67 at the end of three periods.
Mays opened the final period by scoring six unanswered points to cut the Charge lead to one. Canton managed to keep a lead until the 2:27 mark when Uzoh’s floating runner tied the game at 82.
Polk’s bucket followed by Uzoh connecting on one of two free throws gave the Armor a 3-point lead with 13 seconds remaining before Agudio forced overtime.