South Bay Lakers Cruise Past Motor City

The South Bay Lakers played their ninth game of the regular season against the Motor City Cruise as they won, 127-117, on Thursday night. Scotty Pippen Jr. led the Lakers (6-3) in scoring with 28 points. Keifer Sykes paced the Cruise (2-8), scoring 19 points.

A four-day break after their road trip to Texas saw South Bay looking refreshed. The Lakers opened a quick ten-point lead, which Motor City cut down to seven by the end of the quarter. Big men led the way for both teams as Cameron Oliver scored a team high eight in the quarter and Devontae Cacock put up seven of his own. South Bay carried a 33-26 advantage into the second period. The early part of second frame was fairly tight, as both teams traded baskets throughout. L.A. then started to open their lead again behind a 10-4 run that stretched their lead out to 14. A buzzer beating three-point shot from Devin Cannady saw the Lakers up 15, 64-49, at the break. Oliver and Scotty Pippen Jr. had 12 points each. Keifer Sykes provided 12 of his own for the Cruise.

The Cruise came out as the aggressor of the two teams in the third period. Midway through the quarter, South Bay saw their lead cut down to only five. Strong play from Pippen Jr. to close the quarter, emphasized by a three-pointer he made with only one shoe on, helped the Lakers hold the Cruise off. Kyler Edwards led the way for Motor City in the third with nine points. Pippen Jr. scored 10 in the period. The Lakers led 90-79 going into the closing quarter.

South Bay, behind Pippen Jr., continued to build on the way they closed the third quarter. Four minutes into the final frame, they found themselves up by 16 points. A late flurry of threes from Motor City gave the Lakers a slight scare, however they were able to close the game out 127-117.

Pippen Jr. put together a final line of 28 points and ten assists. Cannady added 23 points on five made three-point shots. Oliver added 16 points and 11 rebounds, both season highs. For the Cruise, Sykes and Edwards put up 19 and 17 points respectively.

South Bay’s next game against the Salt Lake City Stars on Saturday, January 21, at 6:00pm from the UCLA Health Training Center.