Photograph By: Gary McCullough
Despite a gutsy effort, the Jacksonville Giants lost their first game of the season, 115-111, to the #1 ranked Orlando Waves. Jacksonville will have a chance at redemption on Wednesday night when they take on the Waves one more time before the New Year.
The game was highlighted by point guard Maurice Mickens game-high 24 points. Mickens’ fast pace scoring was complemented with a stingy Giant defensive effort led by Elijah Smith. Robert Hornsby was the Giants second leading scorer with 21 points.
Jacksonville jumped out to a 57-56 halftime lead. Mickens, Hornsby, Ed Horton, and Bernard Nugent were major contributors in the Giants offensive game plan. Horton scored 16 points, on the afternoon, while Nugent added 13. Throughout the first half, Jacksonville was able to keep continuous pressure on an explosive Orlando offense.
The major turning point of the game was in the fourth quarter, as the Waves outscored Jacksonville 31-27. Orlando was able to go on several unanswered scoring runs that put them back in the lead. Luis Jacobo led the Waves with a game-high 30 points and Brenton Williams was second on Orlando with 26 points.