March 19, 2015

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – History was made Thursday night at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington, but not in the way the host Flex would have liked.

                    The St. Louis RiverSharks, after snapping Flex win streaks of 24 and nine earlier this season in their home gym, came into Bloomington and handed the Flex their first home loss since April 27, 2013, a 91-89 decision to the now-defunct Sauk Valley Predators.  The loss, the second in a row for Bloomington, marks only the second time in Flex history the team has dropped back-to-back games, the last coming on March 15 and 29 of 2013, to Sauk Valley and the Gary Splash.

                    The game was much closer than the 117-105 final score would indicate, as the teams exchanged a one-point lead after each of the first three quarters.  The RiverSharks raised their record to 11-4, while the Flex fell to 12-4.  The RiverSharks also took the season series from the Flex 3-1, giving them home court advantage should the two teams meet in the playoffs next month.

                    Kenny McGowen led St. Louis with 29 points, one of four RiverSharks scoring 20 or more points.  Marcus Goode added 26, and Brandon Provost and Jerrold Brooks each tallied 20.  Goode also grabbed a game-high twelve rebounds as Flex big men Anthony Slack and Matt Salley sat with foul trouble.

                    C.J. Hampton led the Flex with 20, while league scoring leader Justin Bocot dropped in 19. 

                    The Flex host the Gateway Steam on Sunday at 2:05 p.m., while the RiverSharks are off until next Wednesday, when they host the Windy City Groove at 4:00 p.m. at Center St. Louis.