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South Bay Lakers win second matchup with the Memphis Hustle

Shereen Rayan|
EL SEGUNDO, CA - JANUARY 30: The South Bay Lakers pose for a team photo on January 30, 2018 at UCLA Heath Training Center in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
EL SEGUNDO, CA - JANUARY 30: The South Bay Lakers pose for a team photo on January 30, 2018 at UCLA Heath Training Center in El Segundo, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

The South Bay Lakers took on the Memphis at home for the second time this season beating the Hustle 125-116, giving Alex Caruso a nice birthday gift.

The South Bay Lakers didn’t make any big moves prior to the trade deadline. General Manager Nick Mazzella told the Lake Show Life last week that his team looked at their roster and were happy to let the trade deadline pass. He has a very strong divisional first place team in the Pacific Division.

The team is frequently supplemented with two of the Lakers big men Thomas Bryant and Ivica Zubac. The South Bay Lakers roster also includes two exciting two-way players in Alex Caruso and Gary Payton II.

South Bay, now 26-15, took on the Memphis Hustle Wednesday night without Bryant, Payton II or Zubac on Caruso’s birthday. That gave Michael Holyfield and Robert Heyer more play time and the two proved to be able to handle the responsibility each scoring in double figures. Travis Wear was also back in the line-up. The Hustle, thin on the bench, was minus two-way players Kobi Simmons and Myke Henry.

Former Arizona Forward Chance Comanche came out of the gate making all five of his shots adding five rebounds in the first half. Marquis Teague topped the Hustle with 16 points and five assists.

Arizona Wildcats Basketball
Arizona Wildcats Basketball

Arizona Wildcats Basketball

As for South Bay, four Lakers ended the half in double figures. Leading the pack was Scott Machado who scored 15 points and dished seven dimes off the bench. Heyer hit two three’s scoring 13 points and grabbed three rebounds, Holyfield and Alex Caruso both scored 10 points, but Holyfield grabbed nine rebounds!

The half ended with South Bay ahead but not by much, 62-55, it was still a close game. South Bay would outscore the Hustle by 20 points in the second quarter including a combined 24 points from Machado and Heyer, who hit two three’s with Holyfield pulling down four rebounds.

The third quarter also went in the Lakers’ favor by nine points, as they totaled 39 points. This was new Laker James Southerland’s quarter. The newest Laker hit five of seven shots including two three-pointers scoring a total of 13 points, two rebounds, and a steal.

The score at the end of three, South Bay 101 to 85 for the Hustle. Seems like a final score doesn’t it?

Well, South Bay seemed to go cold, and tire a bit as they were outscored in the fourth quarter. The Lakers were up by 22 with 8:13 left but saw that lead shrink to nine by games end. The team did a great job of shutting down the Hustle’s star rookie Comanche, who had scored 13 in the first half. At one point The Chief, Comanche’s nickname from his college and high school days, seemed to have flopped and was called out by Scott Machado.

I enjoy this is the stuff we enjoy way too much. It’s not a secret that I am the Site Expert for our sister NCAA site Zona Zealots (Arizona Wildcats), so fans even try to poke me during the game.

Memphis was ahead by 15 points in the first half in this one, but South Bay got to notch another win beating the Hustle 125-119. Where South Bay makes opponents pay is in fast break points. The Lakers out-paced the Hustle with 32 fast-break points versus 14 for the Hustle.

Team leaders – SIX Lakers ended the night in double figures

  1. Team Leader Machado scored 23 points, dished nine assists and grabbed four rebounds.
  2. Caruso logged the most minutes, scoring 20 points, passing for five assists, had three rebounds and stole the ball twice.
  3. Heyer logged a season-high 19 points on four of five three-pointers for 19 points, adding four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
  4. Southerland scored 18 points adding five rebounds and three assists.
  5. Holy Holyfield finished with a double-double scoring 14 points and snatching 14 rebounds. Holyfield is making the most of his minutes stepping up with the Lakers big men in away.
  6. Demarcus Holland added ten points and six rebounds and four assists on the night.

Highlights and post game interview with Robert Heyer, it was our first chance to get to know Big Rob:

Next: Kyle Kuzma is deserving of NBA 1st team All-Rookie Selection

South Bay will play Memphis in Tennessee on March 23rd. The team stays home to take on divisional rival Reno Big Horns for the last time in their regular season on Friday, March 2 at 7:00 at the UCLA Health Training Center.

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