January 5, 2008

Box Score: L 92-89, (0-1)

Post Game Interviews: Lawrence Moten I Tamir Goodman I J.O. I Antric Klaiber I David Bailey

Rockville, MD – Cedric McGinnis scored 27 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, and had five rebounds to help rally the visiting Wilmington Sea Dawgs to a 92-89 victory over Maryland on Saturday night.

Charles Ward added 16 points for the Sea Dawgs, Alvin Jefferson had 15, and Alexander Harperr had 10 points.

Jefferson also had 11 rebounds. Antric Klaiber led Maryland with 17 points, Omar Weaver had 15 points and David Bailey had 14 points to go along with 15 rebounds, 10 of those coming on the offensive end.

The Nighthawk opened the game with a lot of energy, starting the game with a reverse dunk by David Bailey, who had nine first quarter points. Maryland built an early lead 7-2 lead however Wilmington would regain the lead 24-21 following a Cedric McGinnis 3-point play with 1:34 reaming in the first quarter. The Nighthawks rallied and finished the period on a 5-0 run heading into the second quarter with a 26-24 lead.

Maryland extended their lead to as many seven points in the second quarter but Wilmington closed to within four points behind Cedric McGinnis’s six second quarter points, cutting the Maryland lead to 43-39 at halftime.

Charles Ward, a former Nighthawks, and Cedric McGinnis combined for 18 points in the third quarter as Wilmington outscored the Nighthawks 27-22 and took a 66-65 lead heading into the final period.

“New comer Lonnie Herrell (10 points) and Antric Klaiber triggered the Nighthawks fourth-period surge, combining for seven points, as the Nighthawks began the period on a 7-0 run recapturing a 72-66 lead. The Nighthawks lead would not hold up for long as Wilmington would finish the game on a 26-17 run earning them their first victory of the season.

The Nighthawks trailed 88-91 with seven seconds remaining in the game. Nighthawks guard Warren Jefferson (five points and seven assists) drove to basket drawing the foul and nearly getting the shot to fall. Jefferson hit the first free throw cutting the lead to two. The speedy guard missed the second free throw, but David Bailey got the offensive rebound and put up a left handed hook shot and appeared to draw contact, but no call was made and the shot hit the back of the rim.

“It was a good start, even though we took a loss,” said Nighthawks forward David Bailey. “We learned a lot from today’s game and hopefully we can pull it together and advance to a better season than we had last year. I’m looking forward for this season. It’s a good team and once we get the chemistry working out, I don’t feel like anyone will be able to compete with us.”

Lawrence Moten, who coached his first game in the professional ranks, said of the loss, “Of course you always want a win, but we lost a tough one, the guys played real hard and sometimes you have to take your bumps and bruises before you learn how to win.”

The Nighthawks will look to pick up their first win of the season Sunday afternoon in Reading , PA as the play the expansion Reading Railers at 4PM.

NOTES: JO started at shooting guard for the Nighthawks but only played 8:22 total minutes. He finished 0-2 from the field and was held scoreless. This marked the first time a Thai played in US pro league. The Ambassador of Thailand was in attendance...Tamir Goodman was primarily used as the Nighthawks back-up point guard and played 12:28 minutes but did not attempt a shot…Former Nighthawk legend Lawrence Moten coached his first professional game for the Nighthawks…The Nighthawks next game is Sunday, January 6 at 4PM against the Reading Railers at the Sovereign Center.