Mad Ants Drop Opener To BayHawks

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FORT WAYNE, IN. (WANE) - The night began with optimism - but ended with a loss. The Mad Ants couldn't overcome a 15-points halftime deficit as the dropped their season opener to Erie 109-100 at the Memorial Coliseum.

Veteran guard Ron Howard led the way with a game-high 27 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including a perfect 12-of-12 night at the free throw line. Fellow veteran guard Walker Russell Jr. added 17 points, while number one overall pick JaJuan Johnson narrowly missed a double-double with a 13-point, 9-rebound effort. Warsaw native Miles Plumlee - on assignment from the Pacers - was quiet offensively with just five points, but did grab 12 rebounds.

Erie was led by 27 points from Nick Covington and 21 from D.J. Kennedy. The BayHawks shot nearly 50 percent from the floor, while holding the Ants to just over 40 percent shooting.

The Mad Ants return to the court Sunday evening when they host Maine.