Legend Killers! Toros Take Down the Texas Legends 108-93

Eric Dawson and Leo Lyons Celebrate
as they pull away from the Legends

(Cedar Park, TX - January 7, 2012)- The 11-3 Austin Toros take down the Texas Legends for the 4th time this year with a 108-93 victory in front of an electrifying crowd at the Cedar Park Center.

Justin Dentmon led all scorers with an impressive 31 points and 8 rebounds.

Despite playing against former NBA big men Yi Jianlian, Greg Ostertag, and Sean Williams, the double-double machine Eric Dawson cranked out his sixth of the year with  18 points and 12 rebounds.

"When we found out that they (Legends) sent some guys down, it made me even more energetic," said Dawson after the game.  "I wanted to prove to people that I could play at a high level - the NBA level."

A double double against a couple of NBA player sure helped Eric Dawson make his case.

"I'm super excited about the win," said a much happier Coach Brad Jones tonight.  "This was a game our guys very easily could have lost, but our guys figured out a way to win.  I thought we had a much better urgency tonight, and I thought our depth in the end...was the difference in the game."

Click below to watch Highlights from last nights game as well as a recap from 104.9 FM the Horn's Ari Tempkin and Stew Myrick, who called the  game:

Leo Lyons

Leo Lyons had his best all around game of the season since coming back from a foot injury with 14 points and 7 boards.  Lance Thomas helped out with 11 pts and Da'Sean Butler pitched in with 8 as well. Despite being 'outsized' by the Legends, the Toros still managed to out rebound the Legends 59-49, showing how much heart and hustle this team plays with.

"I'm not going to lie and say it was easy," joked Leo Lyons about going up against the former NBA big men for the Legends.  "Greg Ostertag is a big load.  It's hard to move him out of that paint when he gets locked in.  We battled..."

Lyons didn't play in his first game until after Christmas this year due to his foot injury.  How's he coming along?

"It's a little sore right now," admits Lyons.  "But it's getting there.  The doctor says it's going to take awhile to get back to where I was but I'm just happy to be out there playing again."

Box Score courtesy of NBA D League

CEDAR PARK CENTER CROWD

Photo Courtesy of
AlphaandOmega SportsClub

The Toros played in front of the loudest and largest crowd of the season, just under 4,000 Toros fans, as well as their first game on national television.

"It was a great crowd tonight," said Austin Toros head coach Brad Jones.  "We appreciate the fans coming out tonight... We'll see them back here when we play Canton in a week and a half."

Did having a huge crowd help the Toros energy level on the 2nd game of a back to back?

"It helped alot!" said Leo Lyons, of the crowd's energy.  "We played yesterday so we needed the crowd's energy to go out there and do the things we need to do on the defensive end."

"It was cool," agreed Eric Dawson. "The crowd gave us energy.  We fed off of them and went out there and gave them 110%."

"They cheered.  A couple key free throws that they (the Legends) missed, I think Ostertag even air balled one, they were screaming so loud.  I just appreciate the fans for coming out," says a smiling Leo Lyons.

The next home game for the Austin Toros is Wednesday, January 18th at 7:30pm at the Cedar Park Center against the Canton Charge.  It's a 'Winning Wednesday', sponsored by Taco Bueno, meaning that if the Toros win, then you can bring in your ticket stub to the next 'Winning Wednesday' home game and receive a FREE TICKET! C'mon out and share the experience of a Toros home game.

Click below to watch the full interview with Eric Dawson, Leo Lyons, and Brad Jones:

On a final note:  Love was in the air at the Cedar Park Center last Friday.  Congratulations to Aron Lofton and Rachel Henderson on their engagement.  Aron Lofton popped the question during the Cedar Park Jewelry 'Kiss Cam' segment at the Austin Toros game.  This is the first time a marriage proposal has ever happened during a nationally televised NBA D League game, and thankfully the Toros weren't the only winners that night... Rachel Henderson said 'Yes'.  We wish you both a long and happy marriage!