January 25, 2015
Contact:   Craig Fata, Vice President
(844) THE-MPBA / craig.fata@theMPBA.com

ST. CHARLES, Missouri. – With big men Anthony Slack, Matt Salley and Ray Miller all in foul trouble, the Bloomington Flex had to rely on the play of their guards to weather a comeback attempt by the Gateway Steam Sunday evening in suburban St. Louis and hold on for a 112-103 win.

                    And their guards came through.  Gateway, trailing by as many as eleven in the first half, took their first lead at 72-71 since being up 4-2 early with 4:56 left in the third quarter. But the Flex answered with a 17-0 run over the next 2:32 on the strength of guard Fabyon Harris’ outside shooting and slashing drives to the basket.  The Texas A&M product finished with 26 points to lead all scorers. 

                    The lead ballooned to 19 at the end of the third quarter, 97-78, but Gateway steadily chipped into the lead, getting it back into single digits with 2:28 to play at 104-95.  They narrowed the gap to four, with a chance to make it three with a free throw with less than :30 to play, at 108-103, but the free throw attempt was no good, and Gateway did not score again.

                    Justin Bocot added 25 and C.J. Hampton had 15 for the Flex, who upped their Midwest Professional Basketball Association record to 4-1.  Matt Salley nabbed eight rebounds, while Slack and Miller each blocked four shots—Slack rejected three Steam shots late in the fourth quarter after sitting most of the half with five fouls. 

                    Jake Anderson led Gateway with 19 points.  Newcomer Lee Fischer had 16 points, and Jonathan Miller had 10.  Another new signee, Will Kirksay, led the Steam with eight rebounds.

                    The Flex are next in action Thursday at first-place Champaign, while Gateway, which saw its record fall to 1-5, heads to Chicago to take on the Force on January 31.