PORTLAND — After trailing by as many as 15 points, The Maine Red Claws (10-14) made a second half comeback to defeat the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (15-10) on Saturday night at the Portland Expo Building, 115-104.
Play was even in the first quarter as both teams received balanced scoring. Ron Howard and Trey McKinney Jones both recorded nine points in the frame for Fort Wayne. Maine’s Chris Babb recorded nine points in the quarter knocking down three of four three-pointers and Frank Gaines added eight points.
Fort Wayne took a commanding lead in the second, outscoring the Red Claws 32-23 to take a 68-57 lead heading into the half. McKinney Jones continued his hot shooting, going 4-6 in the quarter to add another nine points, ending the half with 18.
The Red Claws came out hot to start the second half to begin their comeback run behind an early three-point play and three-pointer for Damen Bell-Holter. Gaines caught on fire in the third, shooting 2-3 from three and 6-6 from the foul line to total 12 points, cutting Maine’s lead to four heading into the final quarter, 88-84.
The final quarter belonged to the Red Claws. Sherwood Brown kicked it off with the first six points to spark a 16-0 Maine run in the first 4:52. The Red Claws took their first lead of the night with 9:49 remaining in the fourth off of a Bell-Holter three, 91-88. Gaines added another 10 points in the fourth to secure Maine’s lead.
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