WINDY CITY EVENS ROAD TRIP, BEATS LAKELAND 107-96

[caption id="attachment_2492" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/NBAE via Getty Images[/caption]

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – The Windy City Bulls, presented by BMO Harris Bank, the NBA G League affiliate of the Chicago Bulls, handed the Lakeland Magic their first home loss of the season with a 107-96 victory Friday night.

For the second consecutive game, six players scored in double figures led by Brandon Wood who was the game’s leading scorer. Wood poured in a career-high 29 points and added five assists and two steals. Tyler Harris tallied 20 points and six rebounds, Ryan Arcidiacono added 13 points, six rebounds and seven assists and Jerome Frink scored a career-high 11 points.

The Lakeland Magic were efficient to begin the game making their first four shots from the field and storming out to a 10-2 lead just two minutes into the contest. Windy City faced a double-digit deficit trailing 15-4 with under nine minutes to play in the opening quarter however, the Bulls responded as Tyler Harris scored 12 points and went on a personal 8-0 run to bring Windy City within four. The Bulls tied the game at 20 apiece, but the Magic closed the period strong going on a 9-3 run to close out the opening stanza leading 29-23.

The Magic had five double-figure scorers and two players tally double-doubles. In his first action of the season, Adreian Payne scored a team-high 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Khem Birch posted a 19-point (7-11 FG) 11 rebound performance. Jamel Artis registered 20 points and Troy Caupain pitched in with seven points and 10 assists.

The Magic’s momentum would carry into the second as they would regain a double-digit lead, 36-26. The Magic led for the first 18 minutes of the game. With 9:10 remaining in the second quarter, Jerome Frink would enter the game and make an immediate impact, scoring five consecutive points as part of a 16-2 Windy City run. The Bulls would take a two-point lead, their first lead of the night, with 5:13 left in the half. Lakeland would close the quarter in a similar fashion to the first and lead 50-46 at the intermission.

The Bulls opened the third quarter in style with an 11-2 run to take a five-point lead. Jaylen Johnson aided the solid start scoring six of his nine points in that span. Windy City took advantage of four Lakeland turnovers in the third quarter, which led to seven points. The Bulls led by six, their largest lead at the time, with just under five minutes to play and carried a 76-74 lead heading into the final quarter.

Leading by two to begin the final quarter, Windy City used a 7-4 run to create separation and extend the lead to five with 8:37 remaining in the contest. Lakeland cut the lead to two on a Wes Iwundu basket, but that is as close as they would get. Windy City outscored the Magic 31-22 led by Brandon Wood’s 12 fourth-quarter points. Windy City would close the game on an 11-5 run to secure their second road victory of the season. As a team, the Bulls shot 55 percent from the floor, their best shooting percentage of the season.
Windy City will conclude its current season-long five-game road swing on Monday in Westchester against the Knicks.
​
Fans can stay up-to-date on team news by following the team on Twitter (@WindyCityBulls) or visiting (WindyCityBulls.com). Full season membership, group, and single tickets for the 2017-18 Windy City Bulls season are on sale now. For all ticket information and full season schedule, visit WindyCityBulls.com.