Ants Route Erie, Win 2nd Straight

Erie, Pennsylvania, - The Erie BayHawks entered Saturday night's game against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants as the owners of a five-game winning streak. The Mad Ants used a lengthy 20-0 run in the second half to squash Erie's chance at six wins in a row and downed the BayHawks by a final score of 107-83.

Erie (7-5) traded baskets with the Mad Ants (5-10) for the first seven minutes of the game. The BayHawks took a one point advantage into the second quarter due in large part to a ten point output by Henry Sims. The BayHawks never trailed in the second frame and took a 53-46 lead into the intermission. Erie's Demonte Harper scored 11 points in the second stanza and the BayHawks got to the basket with regularity, outscoring Fort Wayne 28-12 in the paint.

Fort Wayne took control of the game in the third quarter, outscoring Erie 37-18, thanks to 14 points and six rebounds from Luke Harangody. Erie's scoring draught continued in the fourth quarter before they finally broke through on two D.J. Kennedy free throws with 8:29 remaining. Kennedy's points ended a dry spell that lasted over seven minutes of action. The Mad Ants took a 27 point lead late in the fourth, their largest of the game, before finishing off the BayHawks 107-83.

Erie was paced by Sims who scored 22 points. Harper finished with 13 while Kennedy and Keith Benson also pitched in with 11 points. Fort Wayne's Ron Howard tied teammate Tony Mitchell for the game's high scorer with 26 points and he also added 11 assists and six rebounds. Harangody tallied 22 points and 12 rebounds and Indiana Pacers assignee Miles Plumlee poured in 16 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.

The BayHawks return to action in Portland, Maine as they face the Red Claws on Friday, January 4. Fort Wayne welcomes the Santa Cruz Warriors to town on January 3.