WISCONSIN HERD EARNS GOLD IN GRAND RAPIDS

The Wisconsin Herd, NBA G League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks, beat the Grand Rapids Gold 109-101.

James Akinjo powered the Herd with 23 points while Glenn Robinson III followed with a double-double of 22 points and a career-high 18 rebounds.

The Grand Rapids Gold top scorers were Zak Irvin and Armaan Franklin with 20 points apiece.

Aleem Ford and James Akinjo got the Herd off to a hot start combining for the first seven points of the game. The Gold returned with a 10-3 run to even the score midway through the first quarter. Glenn Robinson III scored two baskets in a row to put the Herd ahead, but Grand Rapids was quick to power back and take the advantage. The teams traded the lead twice before Gold separated by six points. Jeremy Tyler knocked down a free throw with less than a minute left, but the Gold held on to lead 26-22 at the end of the first quarter.

Grand Rapids opened the second quarter converting on a shot from deep. Wisconsin battled back with nine unanswered points to push ahead 31-29. The Gold tied the game once before the Herd ran away with seven straight points. Wisconsin pulled away with a double-digit lead (43-33) halfway through the second quarter. The Herd increased the lead to 15 points after back-to-back shots by Glenn Robinson III. At the two-minute mark, Wisconsin’s advantage grew to 20 points. The Gold nailed two shots before the half ended in favor of the Herd 59-41. Glenn Robinson III guided the Herd with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Glenn Robinson III scored four consecutive points to begin the third quarter. The Herd could not be slowed down and advanced to a 27-point edge at the six-minute mark. The Gold tried to come back but the Herd held a steady 20+ point lead until the four-minute mark. Grand Rapids cut into the Herd’s dominance with eight points in a row to make it a 19-point difference. The Herd secured a 6-3 run to close out the third quarter above the Gold 88-66.

Elijah Hughes knocked down a shot from beyond the arc to stretch the Herd to a 25-point head start at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Grand Rapids battled back with a 15-2 run to come within 12 early in the quarter.

Wisconsin held a double-digit lead until the Gold connected on a pair of consecutive baskets making it a seven-point game with five minutes remaining. James Akinjo secured a free throw, but Grand Rapids continued their hot streak cutting the Herd’s lead down to five. Wisconsin answered with two sequential buckets to put them back ahead by double digits. The Gold answered with two more baskets bringing the score to 104-99 with one minute left. Each team hit one basket before the Herd secured the win with two sets of made free throws. The Herd won 109-101.

The Wisconsin Herd will hit the road for a Western Conference match-up with the Salt Lake City Stars on Mar. 12 with tip-off set for 11:30 p.m. CST.

--Wisconsin Herd--