February 21, 2016

ST. LOUIS – The Pontiac 66ers weathered a fourth quarter onslaught by the host Gateway Steam, seeing their 18-point lead shrink to just two, before pulling away for a 123-107 win Sunday at the Emerson Performance Center in St. Louis.

The first half saw the two teams exchange the lead repeatedly, as the 66ers led after the first quarter 34-31.  A late run in the second quarter pushed the Pontiac lead to nine at 64-55 at the half.

A pair of three pointers early in the third quarter from D’Mitri Riggs and Kyle Anderson propelled the 66ers lead to 15, and a Blake Burgess bucket with 4:40 to play in the frame pushed the advantage to 18 at 87-69.  But the Steam charged back behind Anthony Goode and Terrell Williams and cut the lead to ten at 95-85 heading into the fourth.

A 12-4 run by Gateway to open the fourth cut the lead down to two at 99-97 with 7:40 to play in the game.  But three technical fouls against the Steam—one against Brandon Goss and two against Jayvonte Hughes—with 7:20 to play turned into four points for Pontiac, and the Steam found themselves back down 15 a couple minutes later.  A Brent Schuck three-pointer with 1:37 to play cut the lead to ten at 117-107, but the Steam would get no closer.

Khion Sankey scored 26 for Pontiac (6-3) before fouling out with 5:13 to play in the game.  Kyle Anderson and Alfonzo Houston each scored 22, while Blake Burgess, Marcus Hammonds and Trent Thomas, Jr. all scored in double figures.

Terrell Williams and Anthony Goode each had 17 for Gateway (3-4) as six Steam players also scored in double figures.