Slam buzzer-beaten by Energy, 122-120
EDMONTON, Alta. – Stephen Sir hit an off-balance jumper from just inside the three-point line at the buzzer to give the Edmonton Energy a 122-120 victory over the Bellingham Slam in an International Basketball League game at a chilly Ross Sheppard High School Saturday night.
Sir’s buzzer-beater gave Edmonton their second win against Bellingham in the three-game series between both teams. The Slam were victorious, 114-104, on Friday night.
The game was a close contest throughout, with neither team leading by more than eight points.
The Energy were leading, 78-70, midway through the third quarter when the Slam went on a 23-9 run to take a 93-87 lead late in the period.
The Slam held onto their slim lead through most of the fourth quarter before the Energy tied the game at 112 with 2:31 left on a layup by Will Funn. Bellingham re-took the lead a minute later with a Jacob Stevenson jumper, then a three-pointer by Sir put Edmonton up by two, at 118-116, on their next possession.
A putback by Lukas Henne following a scramble under the basket re-tied the game with five seconds left.
Edmonton appeared to receive a fifth timeout from the game’s officials with two seconds left in the game to set up Sir’s buzzer-beating heroics. IBL teams are allowed four timeouts per game.
Stevenson led seven Slam players in double figures with 20 points. Morris Anderson finished with 19 points and nine assists before being sidelined with a leg injury in the fourth quarter. Derrick Webb scored a season-high 15 points in the losing effort.
Sir led the Energy for the third straight game with 34 points, including a 5-for-7 showing from three-point range. Rashaun Broadus and Benson Callied each added 22 points.