CEDAR PARK, Texas – Micah Downs scored 23 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, as the Maine Red Claws defeated the Austin Toros 102-95 in an NBA Development League game Saturday night at the Cedar Park Center.
Chris Wright added 19 points, and Curtis Jerrells chipped in 18 points with a team-high 11 rebounds.
After failing to score on three 2-point attempts and two 3-pointers in the third quarter, Downs, who finished with five 3s, helped Maine recover down the stretch after Austin (23-18) rallied to 79-78 with 8:37 left.
Downs hit two 3-pointers, Curtis Jerrells added a third, and Maine led 92-84 with 4:52 remaining. The Red Claws (22-21) maintained a comfortable cushion the rest of the way.
The teams battled back and forth in the first quarter before the Red Claws went up 28-21 on a 3-pointer by Downs with just over two minutes left. Ryan Ayers made a 3-pointer and Dontell Jefferson added a free throw, and Maine held a 28-25 lead after 12 minutes.
The Red Claws expanded their lead to 49-38 on a layup by Wright with 5:23 left in the second quarter.
However, Austin outscored Maine 13-6 in the remaining minutes before halftime, and trailed just 55-51 at the break.
Jerrells and Mark Tyndale made back-to-back 3-pointers and Wright added a layup to spark a run that would give the Red Claws a 71-57 lead with 4:26 left in the third.
Jamarr Sanders led Austin with 16 points.
Maine travels to Frisco, Texas, to face the Legends on Sunday.
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