Hustle drop overtime game to Spurs

The Memphis Hustle fell to the Austin Spurs 102-99 in overtime on Tuesday, Nov. 15 in Austin, Texas.

The Hustle trailed 80-72 before outscoring the Spurs 23-15 in the fourth quarter, sending the game into overtime, 95-95. Austin’s Jordan Goldwire connected on an old-fashioned 3-point play to reach the winning target score of seven points (102 total) on a game-winning free throw — the Hustle’s first experience with the NBA G League’s new overtime format.

Alize Johnson paced the Spurs with 27 points (10-21 FG) and nine rebounds off the bench. Jordan Murphy posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds while Tommy Kuhse tallied 16 points and nine rebounds. Jordan Goldwire totaled 15 points and eight rebounds.

Kenneth Lofton Jr. led Memphis with 28 points and 11 rebounds on 13-of-24 shooting but was forced into 10 turnovers. Vince Williams Jr. totaled 18 points and six rebounds in his Hustle debut. Dakota Mathias tallied 16 points and six assists and Jacob Gilyard added 14 points and four assists.

Memphis dominated the first quarter, 32-17, while holding Austin to 26 percent shooting, including 10 percent from 3-point range. Mathias connected on a reverse layup to put the Hustle up 42-21, its largest lead of the night, with 7:50 left in the first half. The Spurs closed the second quarter on a 30-8 run to erase the 21-point deficit and take a 51-50 lead into halftime.

Memphis continues its six-game road trip when they visit Rio Grande Valley on Thursday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m.