Mad Ants Bounce Springfield

CLICK ON VIDEO TAB TO SEE WANE'S COVERAGE.

FORT WAYNE, IN (December 15,2012) – The Fort Wayne Mad Ants ended a five game skid tonight with a hard earned 95-85 victory over the Springfield Armor at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

The fast paced first period was indicative of how back and forth the game was going to be all night long, with the quarter ending in a 21-21 tie. Indiana Pacers' assignee Miles Plumlee had a strong start to the game with 7 points and 4 rebounds, and Christian Polk led the Armor with 5 points. The Mad Ants jumped out to a 32-26 lead in the second quarter off of a Plumlee lay up from Detroit Pistons' assignee Kim English, but the Armor came charging back and evened the score at 38 off of a Willie Reed jump shot. The game remained close from there and the Ants were able to go into the half with a two point lead, 47-45.

The Ants kept their lead and expanded it in the third quarter until the Springfield Armor swept all the momentum their way with a 12-0 run to end the quarter. James Mays capped off the run with a 21 foot jumper to give the Springfield a 72-67 headed into the final quarter, and the visitors were rightly excited about their chances of stealing one on the road.

That final quarter, however, belonged to Sadiel Rojas. Rojas – who had not played a minute before that quarter – played the entire quarter and flew around the court giving the Ants rebounds (8 in the quarter), points, and blocked shots. With his energy, the Ants came storming out of the quarter and took a 79-72 lead for their own 12-0 run when Rojas stole the ball from Ben Uzoh and Miles Plumlee finished it with a thunderous dunk. The Mad Ants stingy defense continued for the rest of the game, and Kim English finished of the game for the Ants with four clutch free throws to ice the game.

The Armor were led by James Mays, who had a monster game with 25 points and 21 rebounds. Fellow big man Willie Reed chipped in 16 points and 7 rebounds.

Miles Plumlee had his best game in a Mad Ants uniform with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Kim English played a great floor game with 15 points and 8 assists, and Walker Russell, Jr. had an outstanding game with 11 points, 9 assists, and 0 turnovers before having to leave the game with leg cramps.