LANSING, MI – Aided by a franchise-record 44 points from PG/SG, Latin Davis, the Pharaohs were able to dismantle Detroit despite being short-staffed with only 7 active players. The Pharaohs, who looked virtually unstoppable on offense, beat the Hustle (record: 4-10) on Sunday afternoon to cap off weekend #7 of TBL play. Despite being short two starters, Ja’myrin Jackson (wrist) and Rozelle Nix (ankle), Lansing got the job done in a historic fashion.
“Coming into Sunday’s game we were shorthanded… I was glad to see our guys were mentally tough this weekend, these games can be like trap games,” coach Newman stated.
The Pharaohs began the game starting PF, Sam Muldrow, at center while SF, James Johnson, got the start at PF after his recent good play. Mid-season addition G/F, Jalen Sykes, got the start at SF in only his 5th game with the team and guards, Latin Davis and Maurice Jones, took turns running point and playing SG.
The first quarter of play had a surprisingly slow start as both teams scored under 30 leading to a 29-24 lead for the Pharaohs after 1 quarter. The second quarter is when the track meet began as Lansing exploded for a 46-point quarter leaving Detroit in the dust with a 75-46 lead. The Hustle exploded for a 40-point quarter of their own in the third, but the Pharaohs weren’t far behind as the two teams traded buckets for practically the whole quarter leading to a 113-89 lead for the Pharaohs. To cap off an already high-scoring game both teams scored over 40 in the fourth as the Pharaohs coasted to the finish line on defense but never took their foot off the gas offensively. Despite winning the second half the Hustle’s near 30-point halftime deficit was too much to overcome as the Pharaohs found themselves up 154-132 when it was all said and done.
All 7 Pharaoh’s players scored in double digits in the game and 4/7 scored 20+. However, nobody made a bigger impact than Latin Davis who scored relentlessly going 17/20 from the field and scoring a franchise record of 44 points while adding 8 assists. As a team, the Pharaohs shot 63% from the field (59-93) and 44% (14-32) from three while dishing out 12 more assists than the Hustle. Sam Muldrow (12 points, 12 rebounds) and Maurice Jones (14 points, 13 assists) also both contributed with double-doubles. Jalen Sykes (28 points) also impressed fans with his breakout game of the season where his athletic and shooting ability was on full display.
“I was just playing basketball, not trying to get out there and force anything,” said Latin Davis who virtually couldn’t miss in Sunday’s Contest. Coach Newman would add that, “Latin cut loose on Sunday, and we needed that from at least one player to get over the hump”.
The win concludes weekend #7 of TBL play and there is a lot to be happy about despite injuries to two Pharaoh’s starters as the team improved to 10-4. The team remains in second place in the Upper Midwest Division of The Basketball League and is now in a position to create space between themselves and the third-place team in the division, Toledo Glass City. The Pharaohs also get to hold onto the Members Only Championship belt for one more week before it’ll be up for grabs in a rematch vs Flint United that will take place this upcoming Friday (5.6.22) at Flint. The Pharaohs will also travel to Jamestown, NY to match up against the number 1 team in the division, the Jamestown Jackels (record:12-3), in a doubleheader on 5.7.22 and 5.8.22.