| INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana opened up the second half strong and never relented as they topped visiting Grand Rapids 116-93 on Tuesday night. The Mad Ants hit 12 threes to just five for Grand Rapids, who opened the game 1-of-25 from three-point range. Though, Grand Rapid did outshoot Indiana 43.9 percent to 39.8 percent overall from the field. After a back and forth start to the game, Grand Rapids utilized a 7-0 run to take control, 23-17. With 2:08 to play, a Kyle Mangas three pointer for Indiana ended the Gold run; Oscar Tshiebwe brought Indiana all of the way back with a second chance basket at the one-minute mark. Au’Diese Toney put it in with under four seconds to play in the first to give Grand Rapids the lead, but a foul sent Isaiah Wong to the line with 0.9 seconds on the clock and Indiana held a 29-27 lead to end the quarter after his free throw make. Indiana pushed their lead out to eight in the second quarter on a Tshiebwe dunk and another Wong free throw worth three points, but Hunter Tyson shined back for Grand Rapids to build on an impressive first quarter. Back-to-back steals leading to scores put Indiana up 50-38 with 6:18 to play in the first half. The Mad Ants would maintain their lead, holding on to a 58-50 advantage at the half. Grand Rapids cut the lead to three points before Indiana hit back with a run of their own, including back-to-back Kendall Brown threes to push it back to 71-57 in the Mad Ants’ favor. With 4:23 left, a Reid Travis three put Indiana up by 20 at 77-57, part of a heavy long-range quarter for the Mad Ants, who hit five three pointers in the third. Indiana led 84-67 at the final break. Indiana went back over 20 with their lead with 6:34 to play on a Pedro Bradshaw and-one. Kendall Brown scored a career high 23 points to lead the Mad Ants while Oscar Tshiebwe posted his third double double in as many games with 21 points and 20 rebounds, making him the first Mad Ant to ever record multiple 20/20 or better games in their career with the franchise. Kyle Mangas (14), Jordan Bell (14), Isaiah Wong (13), Pedro Bradshaw (11) and Reid Travis (10) joined them in double figures. Grand Rapids was led by 21 points and seven rebounds from Hunter Tyson and 19 points and seven rebounds from Au’Diese Toney. Jay Huff scored 11 and had six blocks for the Gold. Originally posted on gleague.nba.com |