College Article Feature: Stars erase 24-point deficit to split series with Legends

Written by Zach Halliday | Brigham Young University

The Salt Lake City Stars came back from a 24-point deficit to defeat the Texas Legends 134-125 Tuesday night at the Delta Center. The win came a day after a tough overtime loss to the Legends.

After falling behind 81-59 at halftime, the Stars outscored the Legends 44-18 in the third quarter, sparked by an unselfish offensive performance. Utah Jazz two-way player Blake Hinson scored a game-high 36 points in more than 40 minutes, a day after drilling the game-winning 3-pointer for the Jazz against the Golden State Warriors.

“My job’s to shoot,” Hinson said. “I brought it when I flew into Utah. That’s what I have to be.”

Guards Sean East II and Max Abmas added 18 points each, with Abmas contributing five rebounds and a team-high eight assists. Coming off a career rebounding and scoring night, Steve Crowl scored 10 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Seven Stars players scored in double figures.

“Shout out to the team who has accepted me and made it work,” Hinson said of the Stars. “We got in the rhythm. That shows a lot of professionalism.”

From the opening tip, Texas dominated the paint, collecting several offensive rebounds and converting them into second-chance points. The Legends opened scoring with an alley-oop from Dalano Banton to Mavericks two-way player Moussa Cissé, sparking energy that helped Texas jump to an early 9-2 lead.

The Stars kept it close late in the first quarter with four 3-pointers in the final four minutes, including one by guard Dereon Seabron to cut Texas’ lead to four, 37-33. Seabron led Salt Lake City with eight points and three assists in the quarter.

Despite the Stars’ momentum as the first quarter closed, the Legends continued their offensive efficiency into the second, shooting more than 64% from the field and nearly 52% from 3-point range. Texas spread the ball around, with five players scoring in double figures in the first half.

John Poulakidas drained a deep 3-pointer with 3:33 left in the second quarter, capping a 17-4 Texas run. After back-and-forth baskets from both teams, Cissé put back an offensive rebound at the buzzer to give the Legends an 81-59 lead at halftime.

It appeared the Stars were on the ropes, but the team changed its mentality.

“Like any person in a point of adversity, you can make a decision or an excuse for yourself, or you can make a decision to dig in and try a little harder and let the chips fall where they may,” head coach Rick Higgins said.

The Stars brought a different energy to the third quarter, dominating both ends of the floor. Salt Lake City forced several steals and shot-clock violations, leading to fast-break points and a shift in momentum.

An Abmas steal with just over six minutes remaining in the third led to an emphatic Hinson dunk, completing a 23-5 run in less than six minutes and bringing the Stars within four points.

Back-to-back 3-pointers by Banton briefly kept Texas in front, but an and-one 3-pointer by Abmas put Salt Lake City ahead. A Matthew Murrell 3-pointer at the buzzer gave the Stars a 103-99 lead entering the fourth quarter, closing an efficient third in which Salt Lake City outscored Texas 44-18.

After the Legends tied the game at 103-103 early in the fourth quarter, Salt Lake City never looked back. Following an assertive one-handed dunk by Murrell with 10 minutes remaining, Hinson delivered the knockout blow with back-to-back 3-pointers.

Stalwart defense and efficient shooting helped the Stars maintain their lead the rest of the way, winning 134-125. Salt Lake City shot 52% from the field and 40% from the 3-point line.

The Stars scored 62 of their 134 points in the paint behind strong offensive rebounding from Crowl and Murrell, while also adding 20 fast-break points. Salt Lake City forced 14 steals and 19 total turnovers.

Higgins reflected on the win and what it meant for the team.

“It gives us a chance,” Higgins said. "We’re trying to scrape and claw our way into the
playoffs. Any loss could be the loss that kills our season.”

The Stars improved to 13-16, while the Legends fell to 8-20. Salt Lake City will face the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Friday, March 13.