Rookie Samanic records double-double in Austin loss to Oklahoma City

CEDAR PARK, TX — The Austin Spurs (15-11), presented by SWBC, fell to the Oklahoma City Blue (12-16) by a final score of 125-116 on Tuesday night in their MLK “Dream Game” at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.

San Antonio Spurs assignee Luka Samanic led the Spurs with a double-double of 23 points (10-16 FG, 1-4 3FG, 1-1 FT) and 12 rebounds in 33 minutes. Spurs assignee Chimezie Metu recorded 18 points (8-9 FG, 2-3 3FG), 7 rebounds and 3 steals in 25 minutes, while Spurs assignee Keldon Johnson finished with 15 points (6-13 FG, 2-3 FT), 6 rebounds and 2 steals in 28 minutes of play.

Quinndary Weatherspoon finished with 21 points (9-15 FG, 3-9 3FG) to go along with 6 assists in 32 minutes. Drew Eubanks scored 14 points in 22 minutes.

The game remained close at the start with the two teams tied at 27 points with 2:36 left in the quarter. The Spurs proceeded to end the quarter on a 14-5 run, giving them a 41-32 lead going into the second quarter.

The Blue came back in the second, taking a 78-71 lead at the half behind 19 first half points from DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell. Metu paced the Spurs scoring 18 points in the first half.

With 1:11 left in the third quarter, the Blue established their biggest lead of the game at 16 points (108-92). The Spurs cut the Blue’s lead to 5 points with 3:32 left in the game but were unable to overcome the deficit, allowing the Blue to come away with the 125-116 victory.

For the Blue, Akoon-Purcell led all scorers with 33 points in 31 minutes, while Abdul Gaddy finished the game with a double-double, posting 23 points and 10 assists in 35 minutes. Kevin Hervey also finished the game with a double-double, recording 14 points and 10 rebounds in 36 minutes of play. Three other Blue players finished in double-digit points, including Devon Hall (23), Vincent Edwards (14) and Markel Brown (10).

The Austin Spurs will hit the road for their next four games, starting off with a trip to Memphis to face the Hustle on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m.

Twitter: @JeffGSpursZone