February 17, 2008

Box Score: L 133-121, (3-8)

Rockville, MD --Hours after a commanding win over the Jacksonville Slam, the Maryland Nighthawks fell short to the Rockford Fury 133-121, dropping the Nighthawks to a 3-8 record on the season.

“It was a tough loss,” said Nighthawks Head Coach Lawrence Moten. “The key to being a great team is to be able to play good in the second game. You have to come in with a whole other mentality because your body isn’t in the same rhythm as it is the day before.”

Unlike the Slam’s effortless play, the Fury put forth exactly the opposite as the West Division cellar dwellers dominated the Nighthawks’ lackadaisical defense. Four of the Fury’s players scored 20 points or more, including Frank Richards who amassed a game-high 31 points. Along with his offensive explosion, Richards contributed 6 assists.

Much of the blame for the Nighthawks’ loss can be pointed to the Nighthawks’ free-throw shooting woes. In stark contrast to the Fury’s excellent free-throw percentage on the night (83 percent, 34-41), the Nighthawks were unable to capitalize on the line, shooting an abysmal 63 percent on 24-38 shooting.

“We just couldn’t get over the hump,” added Moten. “We just need to find ways to finish and play harder.”

Certainly if the Nighthawks knocked down their free throws with greater consistency, they would have drawn much closer to the Fury. With five minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the Nighthawks pulled within five points and appeared to be poised to make an even larger run at the Fury. However, Maryland ’s poor free-throw shooting coupled with Rockford ’s superior free-throw shooting and efficient offense doomed the Nighthawks’ comeback effort.

Normally reliable offensive powerhouse Andrew Washington scored well below his average as well for the Nighthawks—10 points. This is Washington ’s lowest point total in a single game since he was acquired by the Nighthawks several weeks ago. On positive note for Maryland , forward Derick Payne had a breakout game. Payne contributed 27 points to lead the Nighthawks’ offense.

Now completing their four-game homestand with a respectful 2-2 record, the Nighthawks travel to Rochester for a Feb. 21 contest against the Razorsharks, who with a record of 9-1, hold the best record in the PBL.

NOTES: For the first time in the history of professional basketball, all three officials during today's game were women...there was a ceremony at halftime honoring this event...Rockford Fury forward Daniel Artest is the younger brother of the NBA's Sacramento King's Ron Artest...Artest finished with 20 points and 7 rebounds.