FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2015
Contact:   Scott Beatty, Director of Media Relations
(630) 212-1723 / scott.beatty@champaignswarm.com

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The newly-minted Champaign Swarm celebrated the first day of professional basketball in Champaign by upending the St. Louis RiverSharks 113-100 on Sunday at Parkland College.

The Swarm (1-0) handed St. Louis (3-1) its first loss of the season on the back end of back-to-back games for the RiverSharks.

With early foul trouble and several turnovers in the first quarter, the Swarm had a slim 26-24 edge after one period. The Swarm’s defense then took charge, holding St. Louis to just two field goals in the second quarter while building a 17-point advantage at halftime.

“We let our defense take of everything,” said Swarm forward Arnold Louis, who had a game-high 26 points. “We play a gambling defense.  We may give up something, but we know we are going to be in their face the whole game and not give up.”

The gambles largely paid off. The Swarm had 12 steals total.

“We slowed things down after the first quarter,” Louis said. “We knew as a new team we would have to make adjustments and not let the pressure get to us.”

Perhaps more impressive was Louis’ 18 rebounds -- 8 offensive -- that helped the Swarm out-rebound St. Louis 49-29, with 19 offensive boards.

The Swarm built a 31-point lead in the third quarter and survived St. Louis’ comeback attempt that trimmed the margin to nine points at one point in the second half.

Champaign head coach Chris Daleo used a constant rotation of players to create a balanced scoring attack; six players had double figure scoring.

The RiverSharks were led by Brandon Hogg, who scored 23 points, and Keith DeWitt, who had 21.

Champaign will host the Gateway Steam at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 15 at the Dodds Athletic Center at Parkland College.  The RiverSharks visit the Bloomington Flex at 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 15, at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum.

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The Champaign Swarm are members of the six-team Midwest Professional Basketball Association and Champaign-Urbana’s only professional sports franchise. They are in their inaugural season. More information about partnerships is available at www.champaignswarm.com.