Hustle win streak at three after sweep of G League Ignite
Photo: Adonis Arms of the Memphis Hustle scores two of his season-high 27 points in Sunday’s 107-89 victory over the G League Ignite at the Landers Center. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
The Memphis Hustle improved its record to 8-7 with Sunday’s 107-89 victory over the G League Ignite (1-17) at the Landers Center. The win was Hustle coach Jason March’s 100th career coaching victory in the G League, 78 of which have come in regular season meetings and 22 were in the Showcase Cup series. March is in his fifth season as the Hustle’s head coach, his 14th season in the Grizzlies’ organization.
Sunday’s victory was also the Hustle’s third straight win. Memphis is now 3-1 in its current seven-game home stand.
HERE’S A RECAP OF SUNDAY’S VICTORY BY THE HUSTLE.
FIRST QUARTER: HUSTLE 28, G LEAGUE IGNITE 18
Cameron McGriff led the Hustle with eight points off the bench. Starters Michael Devoe and Adonis Arms each had five. The Ignite were led by Matas Buzelis with eight points. Memphis led by as much as 15 points in the quarter, the game was tied twice and the Ignite did not lead the entire quarter.
HALFTIME: HUSTLE 52, G LEAGUE IGNITE 41
Matas Buzelis of the Ignite led all scorers with 12 points in the first half. Cameron McGriff (11) and Adonis Arms (10) paced the Hustle scoring. Memphis outshot the Ignite in the half by a 57.1-39.5 percent margin and the Ignite outrebounded the Hustle 25-21.
THIRD QUARTER: HUSTLE 83, G LEAGUE IGNITE 67
The 78-58 lead with less than three minutes remaining was the largest lead of the game to that point for the Hustle. Memphis busted out to the lead as Adonis Arms finished the period with 19 points and was one of five Hustle players in double figures. Matas Buzelis led the Ignite in scoring with 14 points.
FINAL SCORE: HUSTLE 107, G LEAGUE IGNITE 89
Memphis took its biggest lead of the contest with 7:52 left at 98-76. Adonis Arms finished the game with 27 points, a season-high. Arms was one of five Hustle players in double figures, followed by Cameron McGriff with 18 points. Michael Devoe and DeJon Jarreau each scored 17. Loudon Love added 12 more in a starting role. The win was coach Jason March’s 100th career coaching victory in the G League. The Hustle held a 27-point lead during its fourth quarter surge; the Ignite never led in the game.
POST-GAME COMMENTS FROM HUSTLE COACH JASON MARCH
ON EARNING 100th CAREER G LEAGUE COACHING VICTORY
“I work for a great organization, great leadership from the top that gives me great players to work with, great staff, great resources and the wins will come if you do it long enough. It’s been a fun four-and-a-half years and hopefully we can continue to improve and get better and hopefully there’s a lot more. This is where I want to be. As long as they’ll have me this is where I want to be.”
ON THE HUSTLE’S IMPROVED PLAY IN THE FIRST HALF SUNDAY
“You could tell our mindset was a little different than last night. We came out with something to prove because last night we didn’t play well. I thought in that first six, seven minutes that looked like what we are capable of. Defensively man, our guys, they took the challenge. We gave up 67 points in the first half last night. I was not happy about it and it bothered me a lot last night. It was something we talked about with film, so tonight we gave up 18, 23, 26 and 22 points. We only had one quarter where we gave up over 25 points, holding the team to 89.”
NEXT GAME: Wednesday, Feb. 7, the Hustle will host the Stockton Kings (9-6) in a 10:30 a.m. contest at the Landers Center.
