WINDY CITY BEATS CANTON 108-96

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Friday, December 14, 2018

WINDY CITY BEATS CANTON 108-96 

SAMPSON COLLECTS THIRD CONSECUTIVE 20-POINT GAME

The Windy City Bulls, presented by BMO Harris Bank, the NBA G League affiliate of the Chicago Bulls, snapped their four-game losing streak with a 108-96 victory over the Canton Charge on Friday night at Sears Centre Arena.

Six Bulls players scored in double figures led by JaKarr Sampson who poured in a game-high 27 points for his third consecutive 20-point game. After going scoreless in the previous contest, Mychal Mulder tallied 16 points and made four threes, while Rawle Alkins posted 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and career-high-tying two steals. CJ Fair and Kaiser Gates added 11 points apiece and Walt Lemon Jr. pitched in with 10 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in his second game with Windy City.

Bonzie Colson led the way for Canton, tallying his third consecutive double-double and fifth of the season. He posted a team-high 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Kobi Simmons and Scoochie Smith collected 18 points apiece and added a combined 13 rebounds and 14 assists. Levi Randolph and Isaac Hamilton each had 14 points and Emmanuel Terry chipped in with six points, three rebounds, two assists and three blocks.

Canton was in rhythm early as they scored the first five points of the game and jumped out to an early 11-2 lead. Three of the Charge’s first four baskets came from the three-point line and after starting the game 6-for-9, the Charge led by 10 with 7:04 remaining in the period. Halfway through the quarter, the Bulls cut the deficit to six and eventually made it a one-point game with just over two minutes left. Following the stoppage, Windy City took the lead on an old-fashion three-point play by Thomas Wilder. In total, the Bulls shot 50 percent from the floor, scoring the final 14 points and led 29-22 at the end of the opening 12 minutes.

Canton scored the opening two baskets of the second quarter, snapping their streak of seven consecutive minutes without a field goal. The Bulls seven-point lead turned into a five-point deficit after Canton opened the quarter on a 18-6 run. After making 11 field goals in the first period, Windy City shot 27 percent in the second and were outscored 28-17. Canton shot 11-of-20 and by outpacing the Bulls by 11 points, they led 50-46 at the intermission.

The opening four and a half minutes of the third quarter belonged to the Bulls. Windy City scored five straight points to start the half and used an 18-3 run to turn a four-point deficit into an 11-point lead. The double-digit advantage was the first of the night for Windy City and four different Bulls cracked the scoring column during the extended run. Canton, however, responded with a 10-2 spurt of their own to make it one possession game, but Windy City withstood the run and extended their lead to 10 on a pair of free throws by Wilder. With under five seconds to play in the period, the Charge sliced the lead to five, but Alkins beat the buzzer on a driving layup and the Bulls led 82-75 heading into the final 12 minutes.

Windy City’s third quarter success persisted in the fourth as they scored eight straight points to start the period, giving them a 15-point advantage. Gates scored the Bulls first five points and posted all 11 of his points in the final frame. Windy City’s 15-point lead swelled to 20 on a three-pointer by Octeus, which was the largest lead of the night by either team. The Charge didn’t go away easy as they followed the basket with an 11-0 run to make it a 99-90 game with 5:45 left to play. The Bulls responded with back-to-back buckets by Sampson and Mulder which helped seal the 108-96 win, their sixth of the season.

The Bull shot 50 percent for just the second time this season and snapped a six-game streak in which the opposition has a better shooting percentage. The win marks the first time Windy City has won on its home court since defeating the Lakeland Magic 96-71 on Nov. 2. Windy City is now 6-4 all-time against the Charge, including 4-1 at home.

Windy City is back at it tomorrow night as they host the Capital City Go-Go on the second night of a back-to-back. Tip-off at Sears Centre Arena is set for 7:00pm CT.

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 2018-19 Windy City Bulls season are on sale now. For all ticket information and full season schedule, visit WindyCityBulls.com.

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