ONTARIO, CA – The South Bay Lakers grabbed their first win over the Agua Caliente Clippers with a 119-93 victory on Thursday night. The Lakers (24-14) moved to 9-0 when they hold opponents to under 100 points, as Gary Payton II scored 28 points and Thomas Bryant grabbed his sixth double-double with a career-high 12 rebounds. The Clippers (18-22) were led by Tyler Roberson’s 15-point, 11-rebound double-double, but couldn’t overcome South Bay’s high-scoring attack.
South Bay jumped out to a 10-point lead, 31-21, thanks to seven early points from Stephaun Branch. The Lakers continued to pour it on in the second quarter as they grabbed a 68-47 halftime lead. Payton II scored 12 of his 16 first half points in the second quarter, including a pair of thunderous dunks, while Alex Caruso ended the half with back-to-back triples as he finished the first half with 14 points.
South Bay took an 89-70 lead into the final frame as Payton II and Andre Ingram combined for 12 points in the third quarter. Caruso and Payton II combined for 14 points in the fourth quarter as they Lakers put the finishing touches on an impressive road win. Roberson’s double-double paced the Clippers and Ike Iroegbu added 15 points and nine assists. J.J. O’Brien and Dakarai Allen each scored 14 points and Tim Quarterman scored 10 points off the bench in his season debut. Keith Steffeck also reached double figures with 10 points off the bench.
The Lakers’ two-way guards led their team to victory as Caruso finished with 24 points, four rebounds and four assists while Payton II poured in 28 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the second unit. Branch scored 15 points and grabbed seven boards as Demarcus Holland pitched in 13 points of his own. Ingram hit four triples to reach 14 points and Bryant controlled the paint with 11 points and 12 rebounds. James Southerland came off the bench with five points and two blocks in his first game of the season in purple and gold.