POSTED BY: Eurobasket Center
Alfonzo Houston
March 9, 2016
ST. LOUIS - For the first time in the 2016 season, there's a new first-place team in the Midwest Professional Basketball Association, as the Pontiac 66ers moved into the top spot with a 107-102 win over the Gateway Steam at Emerson Performance Center Wednesday, at the same time the Windy City Groove fell to the Blues in Chicago.
The win puts Pontiac (9-4) a half-game on top of the Groove (8-4) with less than three weeks remaining in the regular season.
Pontiac jumped out to a 25-14 lead after one quarter over the Steam (3-8), and went up 37-22 before a 10-0 Gateway run cut the lead to five. Pontiac would close out the half on top 47-39.
The 66ers continued to control the second half and led 75-64 heading into the fourth quarter, stretching their lead to 14 during the final period.
But Gateway clawed back, drawing to within four with less than a minute to play. Pontiac was able to close out the game from the free-throw line.
Alfonzo Houston (6'3''-G-92, college: N.C.Central) led Pontiac with 24 points, while Alex Marzette (6'5''-G) chipped in 18, to go along with eight rebounds and four blocked shots. Six Pontiac players scored in double figures.
Connell Crossland (6'7''-F-91, college: TCU) paced Gateway with 27 points and nine rebounds, as four other Steam scored in double figures.
