Ants Fall To Bakersfield In OT

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FORT WAYNE, IN (March 10, 2013) –  The Bakersfield Jam earned a hard fought 109-102 overtime victory tonight against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.  The Jam were led by a monster game from their All Star, Jerel McNeal, who had 42 points in the win. 

The game went back and forth throughout, but the Mad Ants stretched their lead to six with 9:11 remaining in the game.  But McNeal put the Jam on his back and went on his own six point run, including a four point play after being fouled on a three point shot to tie the game at 83 all.  Both teams exchanged two point leads until the three minute mark of the fourth quarter when Fort Wayne grabbed a four point lead on an Anthony Harris layup.  McNeal, however, answered yet again with four quick points.  Harris and Koch exchanged baskets in the games final minute, and Ron Howard missed a jumper at the end of regulation and the game went into overtime. 

In overtime, Bakersfield made the important plays and the Ants could not buy a bucket.  After Tony Mitchell hit a runner across the middle to tie the game at 99, the Jam went on a 6-0 run to give them a 105-99 lead with 1:13 to go.  Tony Mitchell answered with a banked three, but Damion James hit a clutch turnaround jumper in the key with :47.2 seconds, and the Mad Ants were not able to find the basket as the Jam took home the win. 

Besides McNeal’s heroics, the Jam were led by James’ 18 points, and Quincy Acy’s 14 points and 12 rebounds. 

The Mad Ants were led by Tony Mitchell’s 23 points, Anthony Richardson’s 15 points, and Brandon Wallace’s 11 points and 11 rebounds.