Photo: Jahmai Mashack of the Memphis Hustle goes up for a layup in the first half of Saturday night’s 117-116 victory over the Valley Suns at the Landers Center in Southaven. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – Tyler Burton’s turnaround jumper with 0.2 seconds remaining capped a frantic fourth quarter at the Landers Center as the Memphis Hustle escaped with a 117-116 victory over the Valley Suns on Saturday night.
The win moves both teams to a 1-2 record on the young regular season portion of the G League schedule. .
Burton, who finished with 22 points, proved to be the hero after a back-and-forth final minute. After Memphis (1-2) surrendered a double-digit lead, Valley’s Damion Baugh hit a layup with 4.6 seconds left to give the Suns a 116-115 advantage. Out of a timeout, the Hustle executed a perfectly timed set play to reclaim the lead for good.
“We talked about, you’re going to have four seconds, so three dribbles and a shot,” said Hustle head coach Rob Sanicola. “TB [Burton] didn’t rush it. Everyone had a job there—Jordan [Minor] clearing out a side, Nate [Hinton] setting a good screen. It was nice to see.”
Nate Hinton led the Hustle with a game-high 25 points, including a dominant third quarter where he scored Memphis’ first seven points to help build a 15-point lead. Jahmai Mashack added 18 points for the Hustle, who managed the win despite dressing only eight active players due to injuries and illness.
The Valley Suns (1-2) started the game on a torrid pace, jumping out to a 19-7 lead behind sharp perimeter shooting. The Suns connected on five of their first 11 three-pointers and held a 35-30 lead after the first frame, with CJ Huntley, Jaden Shackleford, and Baugh each reaching double digits early.
Memphis clawed back in the second quarter, taking their first lead since the opening minutes on a Hinton triple with 6:34 left in the half. The Hustle outscored the Suns 28-21 in the period to carry a slim 58-56 lead into the locker room.
The momentum appeared to swing decisively toward Memphis in the third. A 38-30 scoring run, fueled by Hinton and Burton’s interior attacks, gave the Hustle a 96-85 lead heading into the final quarter.
However, the Suns mounted a furious late-game rally. Huntley, who led Valley with 25 points, sparked a comeback that saw the Suns pull within one point with 34 seconds remaining. Following a missed free throw by Hinton and a lane violation that wiped away a previous make, the Suns regained possession, setting the stage for Baugh’s go-ahead layup and Burton’s eventual game-winner.
“I think the message to the guys was just do what we agreed upon to start the year,” Sanicola said. “To do it over the 48 [minutes], that’s where we need to grow. Every guy at some point in the game had a great impact.”
Shackleford finished with 23 points for Valley, while Baugh contributed 22 in the loss.
The two teams won’t have long to dwell on the result; they are scheduled for a rematch in two days.
NOTE: Monday’s game will be the final game of the season for the two teams. Valley, the G League franchise of the Phoenix Suns, plays their home games in the same arena as Arizona State University, Mullett Arena in Tempe.
Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.
