Windy City Bulls fall short against Lakeland
The Windy City Bulls, the official G League affiliate of the Chicago Bulls, fell just short of a victory over the Lakeland Magic on Thursday, 104-98.
Windy City and Lakeland came into the matinee contest at similar points in their season with the Magic entering the game at 12-12 on the year and the Bulls at 11-12.
Lakeland got off to a quick start behind former Marquette Golden Eagle Andrew Rowsey, who knocked down three shots from deep to give the Magic an early 18-9 lead.
Ferrakohn Hall scored the Bulls' first nine points as the rest of the offense warmed up to the early tip time. Windy City was able to get things going late in the first, closing the quarter on a 16-4 run to take a 25-22 lead thanks to a three-pointer by V.J Beachem.
The two teams played the second quarter dead even as the Bulls shot .463 from the field and .400 from long range to preserve a three-point lead heading into the break, 51-48.
Hall had a strong half to lead Windy City with 16 points and four rebounds on 6-for-9 shooting including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. Thomas Wilder finished the first 24 minutes in double figures with ten points to go along with two assists, and Denver Nuggets Assignment player Jarred Vanderbilt chipped in eight points and seven rebounds.
Three Lakeland players finished in double-digits in the first half led by Rowsey with 15 points, Orlando Magic Two-Way player and former Northwestern Wildcat Vic Law with 13 points, and Isaiah Armwood with ten points and five rebounds.
Coming out of halftime, the Magic were able to chip away and regain the lead 72-68 behind eight points and five rebounds in the third by Law.
The lead swung back and forth in the final frame with Windy City fighting to tie the game at 97-97 on a Vanderbilt three-point play with just over a minute remaining.
The Bulls had possession of the ball with 31 seconds left and the game still tied, but key defensive plays down the stretch grabbed the win for Lakeland including two steals by Hassani Gravett, one leading to fast break three-point play by Michale Kyser in the final seconds.
Law led all scorers for the Magic with 29 points to go along with nine rebounds and three blocks. Rowsey added 22 points, six rebounds and four assists, and Orlando Magic Assignment player Melvin Frazier had a strong second half to finish with 14 points, five rebound and three steals.
Leading the charge for the Bulls were Hall with a season-high 23 points, six rebounds and a block, Milton Doyle with 24 points including 16 in the second half, and Vanderbilt with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Windy City (11-13) will stay on the east coast to take on the Erie Bayhawks on Saturday in the second of a three-game road trip.