EL SEGUNDO – The South Bay Lakers picked up their biggest win in franchise history as they beat the Texas Legends, 155-114, on Monday night. South Bay (23-14) was led by Travis Wear, who hit a career-high seven triples, and Demarcus Holland, who scored a career-high 25 points, as South Bay finished the season with a perfect 4-0 record when they played on Mondays. Brandon Ashley scored 23 points for Texas (22-16) as the Legends dropped the season series to South Bay.
A high scoring first quarter found the Lakers ahead, 46-34, as Alex Caruso pitched in 12 early points along with 11 points from Wear. South Bay pulled further ahead in the second quarter behind 11 points from Thomas Bryant to take an 87-60 lead into the half. At the break, Scott Machado had already dished out 14 of the team’s season high 23 assists for a half.
The offense continued to roll for South Bay in the second half as Robert Heyer and Wear combined for 17 points in the third quarter to give the Lakers a 122-83 lead. Gary Payton II put the finishing touches on the historic win with 19 points in the fourth quarter.
Ashley’s 23 points paced the Legends as Jameel Warney added 21 points, but the Legends could not contain the high-octane offense of the Lakers. Donald Sloan (18 points), J.J. Avila (15 points, six rebounds, six assists), Jordan Downing (14 points) and Xavier Johnson (11 points, six rebounds) all finished in double figures for Texas.
South Bay’s record-setting win was led by Wear’s 26 points and seven boards, Holland’s career-highs of 25 points and 11 rebounds and Machado’s 11-point, 16-assist double-double. Caruso (22 points, six rebounds, five assists) and Payton II (21 points, six rebounds, four assists) led the second unit and Bryant anchored the middle with 17 points and a career-high four blocks. Stephaun Branch also reached double-digit scoring with 11 points, while Michael Holyfield grabbed 10 boards off the bench.
In the win, South Bay posted season bests in points (155), rebounds (60), assists (38), blocks (11), bench points (68), points in the paint (82) and fast break points (51). South Bay’s 41-point win bested their previous team record of 40 points that was set on January 30, 2012 in a 127-87 win over the Canton Charge.
The South Bay Lakers will return to the court after the All-Star Break when they visit the Agua Caliente Clippers on Thursday, February 22 at 7:00 from the Citizens Business Bank Arena.
