February 19, 2015

ST. CHARLES, Miss. – The Bloomington Flex used a 33-point first quarter and a suffocating defense the rest of the way out to close out the Gateway Steam 98-75 and move their Midwest Professional Basketball Association-best record to 8-1 at Family Arena Thursday.  The Steam fell to 1-9.

                    C.J. Hampton gave the Flex a 10-point lead in the first quarter at 20-10, on his third three-pointer in four attempts in the period.

                    Bloomington opened the lead up to 14 in the second before Gateway went on a 14-2 run to pull within two at 39-37  with 2:38 left in the half.  Flex coach Carlnel Wiley, Jr. called timeout following the run, and his team responded with an 11-2 run to finish the first half up 50-39.

                    Brad Carroll gave the Flex a 15-point halfway through the third quarter on a three-pointer, their largest lead of the night to that point.  But again, the Steam fought back end the quarter down just ten at 72-62.

                    The Steam then got to within seven at 77-70 in the fourth, but the Flex defense put on the clamps after that.  They closed out the game on 21-5 run, outscoring the Steam 26-13 in the fourth quarter.

                    Justin Bocot led the Flex with 23 points, while C.J. Hampton and Chris Colvin each added 19.  Anthony Slack tallied 16 points, 11 rebounds and 7 blocked shots, while Terrence Green blocked three more and had seven boards.  Matt Salley also had nine rebounds for the Flex.

                    Lee Fisher led the Steam with 14 points and six rebounds. 

                    Both teams are in action again Sunday, as the Flex host the Windy City Groove at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington at 2:05 p.m.  Gateway hosts the Chicago Force at 1:00 at Family Arena.