There will be a Game 3 as the Los Angeles D-Fenders seized control in the fourth quarter to defeat Sioux Falls 109-102 Tuesday night at the Sanford Pentagon.

The game was close until the visitors reeled off 7 straight points just before the midpoint of the final stanza to get enough breathing room to hold off the number one seeded Skyforce. Guard Larry Drew says the team is bruised but still alive.

“These guys are a very resilient group. We’re not discouraged by any means. Tonight definitely stings, but we’re all professionals here and we have one goal in mind and that’s to bring home a championship and we’re going to do whatever that takes in the third game.”

Coach Dan Craig expects a difficult path in a championship setting with one game left to settle the season.

“We knew this was going to be a grind. That team is not going to give you anything. You need to go take it. To be able to play for a championship in front of your home fans, that’s why you play fifty regular season games. It’s what players dream of doing.”

Vander Blue paced the D-Fenders scoring with 29 points, followed by Justin Harper with 21 and Andre Ingram with 20.

Sioux Falls top two scorers came off the bench as Greg Whittington posted 17 points with 7 rebounds and 2 blocks while Toure’ Murry added 16 points.

The deciding Game 3 is Wednesday night in Sioux Falls.

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