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Steam hang on to beat Swarm

By Craig Fata, 02/13/16, 9:45PM CST

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Barksdale notches double-double in debut

 

February 13, 2016

CHAMPAIGN, Illinois – The Gateway Steam used a big debut game by Virginia Tech product C.J. Barksdale to withstand a late three-point barrage by the Champaign Swarm, and held on to win 107-102 in Midwest Professional Basketball Association play at Parkland College Saturday.

Gateway took the lead early in the first quarter, and finished the frame up seven, 34-27.  The Steam scored the first bucket of the second to push the lead to nine, which would be the biggest lead of the game for either team for quite some time.  But the hosts rode Aaron Weaver to slowly reel in Gateway, and ended up trailing by just two at the half, 57-55.

Champaign then tied the game with the first points of the third quarter, and took a four-point lead a couple minutes later on a basket by Michael Rogers.  That would be the biggest lead of the game for the Swarm, as the two teams would exchange the lead until the Steam pulled back ahead 74-72 with just under three minutes to play.  A 9-0 run by Gateway gave them an 81-72 lead heading into the fourth.

A Lanard Bryant three-pointer gave the Steam a 14-point lead at 88-74 with 10:51 to play in the game, and the Swarm looked like they were going to run out of gas after a comeback for the second game in a row.

But the Swarm found their reserve tank, and exploded for a 14-0 run, highlighted by three straight three-pointers by Rogers.  The third three tied the game at 88 with 7:50 to play.

The two teams again exchanged the lead until a Connell Crossland three-point play with 1:23 left gave the Steam a 102-99 lead. 

Champaign shot just 26 of 40 from the free throw line (65%) in the five-point loss.

C.J. Barksdale led the Steam with 20 points and 10 rebounds in his debut, while Connell Crossland added 19 points and 12 rebounds.  Terrell Williams scored 14, Anthony Goode had 13 and Lanard Bryant chipped in 11 for the Steam (2-3).

Michael Rogers led Champaign (1-7) with 21 points, and Aaron Weaver scored 20.  Robert Broughton scored 17 and pulled down 10 boards in his return to the Swarm.  Jordan Walker, Booker Stoudmire and Silas Mills also scored in double figures for Champaign.