Portland, Maine - The Maine Red Claws (20-18) got a put back slam dunk from Chris Wright with 1.5 seconds remaining to snap their season high five game losing streak Friday night in their first game back in the Portland Expo Building after a five game West Coast road trip, downing the Erie BayHawks (20-16), 90-88.
The two teams traded baskets early, with Maine’s Shelvin Mack answering a Cory Higgins three before Maine took the early 5-3 lead on a Wright dunk. From there, Micah Downs took over, scoring ten points in the quarter. The BayHawks’ Henry Sims was equal to the task, scoring 10 as the BayHawks took a 27-25 lead after one. DaJuan Summers tied the game on the first possession of the second before Celtics Assigned Player Fab Melo scored on a hook shot to take a lead. Erie hung around, however, going on a 9-0 run to open up a seven point lead. Maine battled back over the next three minutes to reclaim the lead on a pair of Melo free throws. The teams alternated one point leads the rest of the way, with the Red Claws taking a one point edge into the locker room on a Garrett Stutz hook shot, 46-45.
The break was kind to the BayHawks, as they outscored the Red Claws 19-4 in the first eight and a half minutes of the second half, led by DJ Kennedy, Henry Sims and Kyle Goldcamp’s strong inside play. Maine fought back with a 10-0 run over the final 2:25 of the quarter, keyed by Wright, Summers and Mack’s quick scoring. The BayHawks took a slim 69-66 lead into the final quarter. Mack and Wright continued the hot streak in the fourth, and newcomer Mark Tyndale completed the comeback with a dunk with just over eight minutes left to tie the game at 73. The Red Claws took the lead on a Downs three pointer, and pushed the lead to five on four separate occasions before Erie, led by Sims and Higgins, retook a one point edge with 1:31 remaining. A dunk from Wright gave Maine the lead before a Kennedy free throw tied the contest with 12.8 seconds remaining. Mack fired up a floater with three on the clock before Wright tipped home the game winner with authority, closing out the 90-88 victory.
Erie was led by Sims (21 points, 12 rebounds). They also got solid efforts from Mike Singletary (14), Higgins (14), Kennedy (nine points, eight rebounds, five steals) and Goldcamp (eight points, 13 rebounds).
The Red Claws were led by Wright’s 20 point, 11 rebounds, three steal performance. Maine also got strong contributions from Mack (18 points, eight rebounds, no turnovers), Melo (15 points, 13 rebounds, five blocks) and Downs (13). Summers added eight points, five rebounds and three steals to the win.
The Red Claws and BayHawks will face off again at the Portland Expo Building on Sunday at 1 PM.
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