Charlotte Hornets

Greensboro Swarm Surge Past Austin Spurs to End Two-Game Skid

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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In their final game of their three-game road trip, the Greensboro Swarm held off the Austin Spurs’ rally and left Texas with a win.

The Greensboro Swarm, needing a win after losing two straight, finally got what they needed in a 105-99 victory over the Austin Spurs. The win helped Greensboro improve to 3-7, while Austin dropped to 4-3. The Spurs whittled a 19-point deficit to as little as three in the final minute but were unable to complete the comeback. Jarell Eddie led Austin with 20 points, while Cory Jefferson had 19 points and 13 boards. Patricio Garino added 18 points and nine rebounds for Austin.

Xavier Munford took the game over for Greensboro, putting up 25 points, nine boards, and five dimes as all five Swarm starters scored in double figures. Archie Goodwin had 19 points on another rough shooting night, and Perry Ellis had a career-high 18 points and eight rebounds.

Center Mike Tobey finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, accounting for yet another double-double, and Rasheed Sulaimon tallied 12 points. Every single one of their points was needed, as the Swarm had a shortened bench. Prince Williams, Rodney Williams and Ralston Turner were all held out of the action.

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The Swarm trailed Austin 28-25 after the first frame, but they then used a 32-point second quarter to pull away from the home team. After holding Austin to only 19 points in the quarter, Greensboro went into halftime up 57-47. In the third quarter, Munford and Goodwin began to take over, as both players traded baskets and continuously penetrated the lane while the Spurs played catch up.

However, in the fourth quarter, the Spurs whittled the 19-point deficit to 13 around the three-minute mark. After more free throws, the Spurs were only down by nine, and back-to-back three-pointers in transition made it a one-possession contest. Munford struggled during the final minutes, as the guard had two costly turnovers and gambled for a steal that resulted in Austin’s last three-pointer.

The Swarm rushed possessions and had quick shots during this span, often resulting in tough off-balance floaters and contested layups. Greensboro also continued to leave points on the line towards the end; Goodwin and Ellis both split free throws, and Sulaimon missed a free throw off a technical foul.

However, Austin’s Demetri McCamey (14 points, four assists) was called for a charge a few possessions later that gave the ball back to Greensboro, and Austin had to foul the rest of the way.

With the win, Greensboro can finally breathe and relax as they return home to prepare for their matchup with Raptors 305. The game will tip off on December 7 at 7 pm Eastern Time.

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