The Canton Charge (24-17) defeated the Sioux Falls Skyforce (23-19), 98-91, in front of 3,507 fans Saturday afternoon at the Memorial Civic Center. Canton keeps their hold of the top Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, while Sioux Falls remains atop the Central Division despite the loss.
Sioux Falls took their first lead of the game when trailing 67-64 to start the fourth, the visitors scored the first six points of the quarter to pull ahead 70-67. Canton then countered immediately by rolling off a 15-4 run that turned into the game's deciding stretch. The hosts kept a minimum two possession lead the remainder of the game to deter any comeback attempt. Despite being held to 39.8% from the floor as a team, the Charge surrendered just 10 turnovers, tying their season low, and attacked the basket to get to the free-throw line 31 times to the Skyforce's seven.
Six Canton players scored in double figures, four of which went over 15 points. The Charge swept all four games against the Skyforce this season and have won 10 of their last 13 games overall. Canton also has won seven consecutive games against Central Division opponents. If the current standings hold, the two teams would meet in the opening round of the NBA D-League Playoffs in what would be a rematch of last year's postseason opening series.
Canton's Arinze Onuaku posted a double-double of 14 points and 14 boards in 39 minutes, his 28th of the season in 35 games. Jorge Gutierrez came off the bench to provide a team-high 18 points and two steals in 28 minutes, while Chris Crawford added 15 points, five rebounds, and six assists in 28 minutes of relief. Brandon Paul scored 17 points and grabbed six boards in 32 minutes, and Stephen Holt added 18 points, six rebounds and five assists in 30 minutes.
Sioux Falls' Scotty Hopson led all scorers with 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting and seven assists in 41 minutes. Andre Dawkins netted 18 points on 7-of-16 shooting in 41 minutes. Larry Drew added seven points, seven boards, 10 assists and two steals in 39 minutes. Khem Birch posted a double-double of 14 points and 15 rebounds in 30 minutes of play. The Skyforce starters tallied 74 of the team's 91 total points.
(Press release from the Charge)
