Indiana Lyons prevail in back-and-forth battle with Naptown Pros
DANVILLE, Ind. (Press Release) – The Indiana Lyons continue preparing for the upcoming 2020-21 American Basketball Association (ABA) season, fighting back from a lethargic first half and holding off a late surge to secure a 101-98 victory over the visiting Naptown Pros on Nov. 21 in preseason action.
The Lyons started the game flat, struggling with missed shots and ball control while the Pros operated with surgical precision. The home crowd fell silent, and Naptown led 29-21 at the end of the first quarter while the Lyons struggled to get into gear.
Guard Mike Pugh (19 points, 3 rebounds) and 7’0” center Alex Brown (10 points, 3 assists) entered the game in the second quarter and sparked some excitement among their teammates and fans. Pugh used his high energy and athleticism to lead his team to some consistency in play and to close the gap on the scoreboard.
Brown emphatically blocked a Pros shot in the second frame, firing everyone up inside Bosstick Gym. He secured a number of crucial rebounds in the quarter, finishing the game with 3 blocked shots and a team-leading 9 rebounds.
The Lyons tied the score at one point in the second quarter, but Naptown went on a late run and led 57-49 at halftime.
Forward Gerald Campbell (30 points, 5 assists) and guard Kendric Lee (14 points, 7 assists) found their groove in the second half for the Lyons, both offensively and defensively. Campbell and Lee each registered 3 steals in the game to lead the team. Campbell also tied Brown for the team lead in rebounds (9), and small forward Preston Case added 7 rebounds of his own to the effort.
The Lyons dominated the Pros 31-13 in the third quarter, holding an 80-70 lead heading into the final 12 minutes, but the Pros made a furious comeback attempt in the fourth quarter, aided by the Lyons’ inability to consistently hang on to the ball and make free throws.
The home team managed to make only 4 free throws in 10 attempts in the game, while the Pros were 12-of-16 from the charity stripe. The Lyons turned the ball over 16 times in the contest to Naptown’s 6 turnovers.
Ultimately, a three-point attempt by the Pros went wide right as time expired, and the Lyons hung on to win 101-98 and improve their preseason record to 3-2. They have two preseason games left to play.
Kourtlandt Martin led the scoring for the Naptown Pros with 22 points, while Brandon Adkisson and Jerimiah Boyd each added 17 points. Martin also led Naptown with 12 rebounds and 8 assists.
The Lyons host the Midwest Guardians on Dec. 5 and the Beaver County Indians on Dec. 12 to round out the preseason. Both games are on Saturdays, and both tip off at 5 p.m. at Bosstick Gym, 49 N. Wayne Street in Danville. Tickets are just $10/person and $5 for children and military veterans. They’re available at www.IndianaLyons.com.
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.
