Monday, December 20, 1999
Bench scores 37 in Stuff victory
Reserves add 16 rebounds, too
BY PETE HOLTERMANN
Enquirer contributor
The message was simple, but it represented exactly what the Stuff wanted to do on Sunday night.
“Way to bounce back,” read the dry erase board in Cincinnati's locker room after the Stuff shook off Saturday's loss to St. Louis with a 93-88 win over Trenton at the Firstar Center.
The Stuff (8-1) showed the effects of playing their third game in as many days, and fourth in five days, shooting just 43.5 percent from the field and turning the ball over 18 times.
“They weren't a step slow,” Stuff coach Joby Wright said, “but they may have made some of the bad decisions because they were tired.”
Cincinnati got a boost on Sunday from the bench. Led by 12 points from former Xavier star Lenny Brown, Stuff reserves contributed 37 points and 16 rebounds.
“I've never been referred to as the bench before,” Brown said. “The rotation is set, so we just go out and play our role.”
“He's a microwave for this team,” Wright said of Brown. “He comes in and provides instant offense.”
Hamilton's Chris Kingsbury was another part of that bench contribution, scoring eight points and grabbing three rebounds despite not playing in the first half.
“I have to take advantage of the time I get, or I'm not going to play in the next game,” Kingsbury said. “A lot of these guys were starters in college and are in their first year out of school. But they're adjusting well.”
Wright was not only pleased with the play from his bench, but also with Cincinnati's continuing development on defense.
“I really like our aggressiveness,” he said. “Guys are working really hard on defense.”
Trenton shot 41.8 percent from the field and went 2-of-9 from three-point range in the game.
Withrow High School graduate Eric Taylor led the Stuff with 15 points and 11 rebounds. It was his first double-double of the year.
“He just made up his mind that he was going to put the team on his back tonight,” Wright said.
Wayne Turner added 14 points, and Moo Moo Blakney contributed 11 points and six assists.
TRENTON — King 3-6 0-0 6, Edwards 1-3 0-0 2, Joseph 4-8 2-3 10, Lothridge 8-19 2-4 18, Greer 5-8 1-1 13, Hames 0-2 0-0 0, Blunt 2-7 3-4 7, Grant 6-13 10-14 22, Jones 0-1 0-0 0, McClary 1-6 1-2 3, Hyman 3-6 1-2 7. Totals: 33-79 20-30 88.
CINCINNATI — Fowlkes 3-10 3-5 9, Taylor 3-7 9-10 15, Sanders 2-9 2-2 7, Turner 6-11 2-2 14, Blakney 4-9 1-1 11, Kingsbury 2-4 2-2 8, Brown 5-10 1-2 12, Edwards 2-3 1-2 7, James 0-3 2-2 2, Samake 3-3 2-5 8. Totals: 30-69 25-33 93.
Three-point field goals: Trenton 2-9 (Edwards 0-1, Lothridge 0-3, Greer 2-3, Blunt 0-1, McClary 0-1); Cincinnati 8-16 (Fowlkes 0-1, Taylor 0-1, Sanders 1-2, Blakney 2-2, Kingsbury 2-4, Brown 1-4, Edwards 2-2). Rebounds: Trenton 48 (Grant 9); Cincinnati 47 (Taylor 11). Assists: Trenton 17 (Greer 6); Cincinnati 17 (Blakney 6). Technical Fouls: Trenton Bench. Att.: 3,074.
Trenton ....... 22 14 25 27 — 88
Cincinnati ....... 32 13 27 21 — 93
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