Flash 109 – Bighorns 104

Boxscore

Playing against the Reno Bighorns for the second game in a row, the Utah Flash clawed out a win to snap a two-game losing streak. Luke Nevill got sneaky buckets and ended up with 22 points while Dontell Jefferson put up 17 with 9 assists. Desmon Farmer scored 18 and also took an elbow to the face that left him with a bloody nose.

Notes:

• In NBA trade rumor news, sitting courtside was Jazz assistant coach Scott Layden, who said he hadn’t even heard of the Ronnie Brewer to Memphis talk. So there’s that. Meanwhile, he was sitting next to Memphis scout and former Jazz coach Gordon Chiesa.
• Apparently the D-League’s shoe deal with Adidas means that to wear anything else, players must black out any other logos and have a note from a doctor. In the words the great @tuffyr, “To whom it may concern: My patient must wear Converse for his health. Signed, Dr. J.”
• By my count, more than half the players were wearing blacked-out Nikes.
• Bighorns coach (and former Jazz player) Jay Humphries was ejected late in the second half. He must have used some magic words because he was calm and smiling during the whole episode. Jazz fans remember Humphries as the other half of the Blue Edwards trade with Milwaukee.
• Gordon Chiesa has an encyclopedic memory. He rattled off the details of the Blue Edwards / Jay Humphries / Larry Krystkowiak like he had it written on a 3×5 card.

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nba.com recap:

OREM, UT, Jan. 22, 2010 – In the second of a back-to-back matchup with the Reno Bighorns, the Utah Flash hit free throws down the stretch to get the victory Friday night. The Flash had six different players score in double figures to get a 109-104 win.

Utah started the game jumping to a 10 point lead midway through the first quarter behind Luke Nevill’s 10 first quarter points. Mo Charlo led the way for the Bighorns with eight points but the team trailed 23-28 at the end of the first.

Reno started the second quarter on an 11-2 run and outscored the Flash by eight in the quarter to take a three point lead going into the half 44-47. The Flash shot just 39 percent from the field in the half and committed 14 turnovers. The Bighorns were led by Mo Charlo and his 14 points in the half.

Four minutes into the third quarter a Carlos Wheeler ally-oop dunk led a balanced Flash attack to take the momentum and a nine-point lead into the fourth. Wheeler had 11 points in the quarter as the Flash led 76-67 at the end of the third.

Reno’s head coach was ejected from the game with his second technical foul with 3:04 remaining to play in the game. Reno hung around in the fourth quarter looking to cut into the Flash lead with a 7-0 run with under two minutes to play. The Bighorn’s late rally cut the lead to four points on a Desmon Farmer three point basket. They couldn’t get any closer though as the teams exchanged free throws down the stretch and the Flash came away with the victory.

After losing two at home we needed to do whatever it takes to win the game whether it is pretty or ugly,” said head coach Brad Jones. “Tonight was an ugly win but all wins are pretty.”

The balanced Flash attack was led by Nevill’s 22 points and Dontell Jefferson’s 17 points and nine assists. Mo Charlo let the way for Reno with 20 points while Daryl Dorsey and Farmer scored 18 points apiece.

The Flash will stay at home to host Maine on Monday night at 7p.m. at the McKay Events Center.