Skyforce Outrun Drive to Finish Road Trip

This report was compiled by Sarah Parfet Jbara: Public Relations Director of the Grand Rapids Drive

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (November 25, 2015) - Jarnell Stokes had a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds as the Sioux Falls Skyforce beat the Grand Rapids Drive 103-93 on Wednesday night at the DeltaPlex Arena in front of 2,975 fans.

Grand Rapids (1-3) opened the game on an 18-2 run, thanks to the hot shooting of Devin Ebanks, who had eight points during the series. But the Skyforce (2-2) rallied back to take the lead in the second quarter and wouldn’t relinquish it.

Greg Whittington drained a 3-pointer to give Sioux Falls a 40-38 lead midway through the second quarter for Sioux Falls’ first lead of the game. Tre Kelley drained two 3-pointers late in the quarter as the Skyforce led 57-50 at halftime.

Sioux Falls had six players score in double figures. Stokes’ 23 points were followed by Rodney McGruder (16), Kelley (15), Whittington (14), Keith Benson (12) and Bubu Palo (10). Whittington also had 11 rebounds. DeAndre Liggins had 8 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists. Stokes, who had three blocked shots, was 11 of 13 from the field and 1 of 2 from the free-throw line.

Ebanks scored a game-high 24 points on 11 of 20 shooting, including three 3-pointers. He was followed by Henry Sims, who had a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Ryan Boatright added 20 points and Lorenzo Brown had 16.

Skyforce Blowout Erie for First Win

Stokes, who was assigned to Sioux Falls on Tuesday by the Miami Heat, scored the Skyforce’s first bucket of the game. Stokes was traded by the Memphis Grizzlies to Miami on Nov. 10. Stokes, who was drafted out of the University of Tennessee, played played two games with the Grizzlies this season but has yet to play for the Heat.

Sioux Falls, the NBA D-League affiliate of the Miami Heat, begins a four-game homestand when it hosts the Maine Red Claws on Friday. Grand Rapids, the affiliate of the Detroit Pistons, will host the Iowa Energy on Saturday.