Toros Charge Past Canton 114-97 To Improve to 16-4

(1/18/2012 - Cedar Park, Texas) The Austin Toros improved to 9-1 at the Cedar Park Center and 16-4 overall by defeating the Canton Charge 114-97.  The 16-4 start ties the single best record for an NBA D League team to start out the season.

Toros Coach Brad Jones

"It's really exciting," says Coach Brad Jones after the game on his team's historic start.  "We have a group of really good guys who have bought into what we're trying to do in our system.  We've had a really good start to the season and hopefully it will pay off..."

Da'Sean Butler and NBA Development League Performer of the Week Justin Dentmon lead the way for the Austin Toros, each scoring 21 points. 

Eric Dawson delivered yet another double double (his 11th for the season) with 16 points and 10 rebounds and Leo Lyons added a strong 15 points with 14 boards off the bench.  6 players scored in double figures for the Toros as they shot over 51% from the field and 47% from the 3 point line.

Box Score Courtesy of NBA D League

The defensive intensity was there tonight as well.  After spotting the Charge with a 20-11 lead, the Toros stormed back with a 16-2 run to take control of the game.  Former NBA player Keith McLeod lead the way for the Charge with 12 points in the 1st quarter alone.  But the Toros clamped down after that, holding the Charge to shooting 41% from the field.

"We really have worked hard on being a good defensive team," says Coach Jones.  "We feel like we're a really good offensive transition team and when we are able to get stops... we're really really good in transition."

So what happened early in the game that allowed Canton to get off to such a great start?

"We had talked about the pick and roll coverage we wanted to have on him (McLeod) but we didn't do a very good job of executing it during the early part of the game," states the Coach.  "Then we figured it out and I thought we did an excellent job."

The Toros now catch a 7AM flight to snowy Idaho for a back to back game this Friday and Saturday.  The next home game for the Toros is the 1/31 11am Matinee Game against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.  The next night game is 2/1 at 7:30pm against the same Vipers.

Video of Coach Brad Jones after the game: