Austin Toros Extend Win Streak to Six Games and Now Prepare for The Showdown at Cedar Park Center

AUSTIN- The Austin Toros continued their solid play Friday as they defeated the L.A. Defenders 115-111 before a packed house at the Austin Convention Center. With the win, the Toros extended their win streak to six games and will now prepare for a pair of games against the Reno Bighorns next week at The Cedar Park Center.

L.A. took an early 8-2 lead as the Toros missed three of their first four shots from the field in the early going. Joe Crawford got the Defenders off to a quick start by making his first two field goals.

The game remained close throughout the first quarter with the Dwayne Jones leading the way for the Toros with his 11 first quarter points. Lewis Clinch hit a three-pointer with 11 seconds left in the quarter to help Austin take a 31-26 after the first 12 minutes of action.

L.A. tied the game up at 45-45 at the 3:43 mark of the second quarter when Michael Fey sank a pair of free throws. The Toros then went on a 10-4 run that was capped by a Jones dunk and a couple of Hairston free throws that put them out in front 55-49 with 36 seconds to go in the first half.

Austin managed to extend their lead to 62-51 over the first couple of minutes of the third quarter when Jones scored on a lay up and sank a free throw after being fouled on the play. Alonzo Gee then drove inside for a spectacular dunk shot that left the Defenders down by nine.

When Malik Hairston sank a three pointer with 5:02 left in the game, the Toros had their biggest lead of the night at 104-89 but L.A. came storming back to cut the lead to one at 111-112 with 19 seconds left in the game.

Austin managed to hold the Defenders off over the final seconds by sinking three of four free throws helping them come away with the 115-111 win. With the win the Toros improve their record to 15-9 and remain in second place four games behind Rio Grande Valley. L.A. saw their record fall to 8-14.

Austin was led in scoring by Malik Hairston with 30 points while teammate Dwayne Jones turned in a solid performance by totaling 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting and pulling down 17 rebounds. The Toros had five players score in double figures.

L.A. was led in scoring by Michael Fey with 25 points.

The Toros will play their first games at The Cedar Park Center in The Showdown at The Cedar Park Center on February 2nd and 3rd against the Reno Bighorns. Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm.