PORTLAND – Brandon Smith’s career day helped the Slam to an easy 136-91 win over the USA All-Stars at the second day of the IBL Spring Showcase Sunday afternoon in Portland.
Smith finished with a college and professional career-best 35 points and 15 boards to lead all scorers and rebounders.
The result marked the second straight game that the Slam were able to hold an opponent under 100 points, after being unable to accomplish the feat for over two years before Saturday night’s 145-99 victory.
The All-Stars were able to hang with the Slam in the game’s opening stages, holding an 11-6 lead four minutes in. But the Slam outscored the All-Stars 27-11 the rest of the quarter, with 12 points in that run coming from Jake Linton, to take a lead they would never relinquish.
In the second quarter, Bellingham held the All-Stars to just six field goals and a team-record 13 points to take a 65-31 lead into halftime, with the team’s dominant showing punctuated with a buzzer-beating three-pointer from the left corner by Smith.
The third quarter saw the Slam’s advantage balloon to as much as 42 before the two teams took a 93-56 score into the fourth.
Smith kept up his hot played with 12 points in the fourth quarter as the All-Stars were unable to chip away at the Slam’s lead. A putback by Kyle Dalvit with less than two minutes remaining ensured that every Slam player suited for the game would score for the second straight game.
Smith’s impressive showing was complimented by 21 points from Jacob Stevenson and 19 each from Ira Graham and Linton.
Thomas Morris led five USA All-Stars players in double figures with 19 points.
The Slam return home to face the Vancouver Titans on April 18. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. at Whatcom Pavilion.