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Lakers Control Second Half in Victory Over Stars

By South Bay Lakers Staff /December 7, 2021

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH — The South Bay Lakers used a second half rally to fuel their 121-114 victory over the Salt Lake City Stars on Monday night at Bruin Arena.

Mac McClung led the way for South Bay (6-1) with a game-high 25 points to go along with seven assists as he attacked the basket and put pressure on the Stars interior defense throughout the night.

Chaundee Brown Jr. added a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds while Stanley Johnson chipped in 18 points. Mason Jones scored 19 points to go with five rebounds and 10 assists off the bench for the Lakers.

The Stars (1-8) were balanced across the board with six players scoring in double figures. Nino Johnson had his best game of the young season leading the Stars in scoring and rebounds with 17 points and 10 boards.

Derrick Alston Jr. added 16 points, Carsen Edwards scored 15 points while Malik Fitts and Macio Teague dropped 14 and 12 points, respectively.

The Stars newest additions made their presence felt as J.J. Avila scored 12 points along with eight rebounds and Jared Wilson-Frame added eight points off the bench.

The Stars were firing on all cylinders in the first half knocking down shots and moving the ball on the offensive end. Salt Lake City was able to push their lead to 16 at one point before the Lakers used a late second quarter run to close the gap going into the break.

Trailing 61-54 at halftime, the Lakers tightened up their defense and began knocking down open looks as the team shot 11-20 from the field and 5-9 from behind the three-point line. The Lakers recaptured the lead heading into the fourth quarter 89-85.

Both teams lit up the scoreboard in the final frame as the Stars shot 11-22 from the floor behind eight points from Fitts. The Lakers repeatedly drove the lane down the stretch and shot 11 free-throws in the quarter while closing out the Stars.

The two teams will square off for a second time on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at Bruin Arena at Salt Lake Community College.