January 22, 2016

CHICAGO – Antoine Ware of the Chicago Blues isn’t usually known for his offense, but the big forward scored the last basket of regulation and seven points in overtime to lead his team to a thrilling 131-130 over the previously unbeaten Pontiac 66ers at the Kroc Center Friday night.

The two teams exchanged the lead throughout the first quarter, and then Pontiac’s Jake Anderson tied the game at 28 with a layup with :15 left in the period.

The 66ers took brief control of the game in the second quarter, building a seven-point lead before Chicago’s Ron Patten tied the game at 51 on a layup with 3:46 to play in the half.  With the score then tied at 57, Pontiac went on an 8-0 run to close the half up 65-57.

Pontiac scored the first point of the second half to build the lead to nine, which would be the biggest of the game for either team.  Chicago continued to grind and got to within one before the 66ers finished the third quarter up 92-89.

Pontiac again built the lead to seven early in the fourth, but again the Blues responded, getting to within one at 106-105 with 4:58.  A 9-1 run by Pontiac pushed the lead back to eight until Ware, Al Rapier and Ryan Jackson baskets reeled the 66ers back in.

A Jake Anderson free-throw gave Pontiac the lead at 117-114 with :28.9 to play.  And then, on the ensuing possession, Ware struck on a three-point play to tie the game at 117 with :24.9 left.  Neither team would score again in regulation.

Alfonzo Houston opened the scoring with successive baskets for Pontiac in the extra frame, but another three-point play by Ware got the Blues back to within one.  The Blues tied the game at 123, and then took the lead on a Rapier basket a moment later.

Jake Anderson answered for Pontiac on a three-point play, giving the Sixers the lead 126-125 with 1:31 left.  Garrett Jefferson pushed the lead to three a moment later, but the Blues answered with a 6-3 run over the final 1:05, with Ware scoring the game winner with 5.3 seconds to play.

Ware scored 26 points and pulled down five rebounds for the Blues (1-2).  Tremell Adams scored 23, Al Rapier had 21, and three other Blues scored in double figures, including University of Kansas All-American Sherron Collins, who scored 14 in his debut.

Alfonzo Houston scored 33 and grabbed nine rebounds for Pontiac (3-1).  Garrett Jefferson added 22.