Motor City returned home for a meeting with the Stockton Kings. Coming off a tough loss to a very good Long Island team, the Cruise would look to see if they could find the spark they needed to get back on the right side of things.
Adversity Early On
It looked like Motor City was up for this one early. The Cruise came out firing in their return home as they would get off to an 8-2 within the opening two minutes. They would still hold a solid 13-6 lead about midway through the quarter. Stockton wasn’t about to go away though, as they would trim the lead to a one-possession game late in the first. The Kings offense would really get going as they would put the hometown Cruise down after one, 26-27. Jordan Ford really had the midrange game cooking early to lead Stockton. He would go for 8 points in the quarter. Jaime Echenique (8 points) and Jared Rhoden (7 points) had their offensive hats on early to lead the Cruise.
Back and forth the two teams went to open the second quarter as the Kings would cling to just a two-point lead through the opening minutes. Motor City would then tie things up with 4:50 remaining at 43-43. Stockton would then put together a big 7-2 run together to take a 56-47 lead into the half. Neemias Queta began to impose his will down low for the Kings to notch 8 points in the quarter. Ford would have another big quarter to tally 8 of his own. Motor City would be limited offensively, but they would still be right in this one.
Keep Battling
The Cruise were going to need to find a way to limit the offense of Stockton if they had any hopes of pulling this one out. They would find themselves in an even bigger hole about midway through the third as the Kings would put together a 14-4 run to up their lead to eighteen. Motor City would cut the lead down to thirteen late in the quarter before the Stockton offense would explode again. They would end the quarter on a 12-3 run to put the Cruise down 69-91 after three. Former Michigan Wolverine star Trey Burke would have himself a quarter with 8 points. He was helped out by Ford (7 points) and DJ Steward (7 points). The Motor City offense would again have trouble keeping pace.
Motor City would trade baskets through the openings of the final quarter, but it just wouldn’t cut into the lead much. The Cruise would end the game on an 18-4 run, but the deficit would just be too much to overcome as Stockton came into Wayne State Fieldhouse and flew by the Cruise, 116-102.
The Numbers
Jordan Ford was a menace all night for the Cruise as he led Stockton with 23 points. DJ Steward had a big game off the bench as he went for 22 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Athletic, big man Neemis Queta helped his team with 16 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Trey Burke made some big shots on his way to 15 points (3 three-pointers).
Jeriah Horne was another thorn in the side of the Cruise from the Stockton bench finishing with 13 points (3 three-pointers) and 7 rebounds. Chance Comanche finished with a double-double (12 points and 12 rebounds). Alex O’Connell was big late with 11 points (3 three-pointers).
Jaime Echenique led the way for the Cruise with an impressive night going for 20 points (8-11 shooting) and 6 rebounds. Keifer Sykes (17 points, 7-14 shooting) and Buddy Boeheim (15 points) were able to help the Cruise offense keep it close at times.
David Nwaba stuffed the stat sheet again to finish with 12 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. Jared Rhoden was big early to pitch in 9 points. Jaylen Johnson led the Motor City bench with 9 points (4-7 shooting) and 7 rebounds. Trayvon Palmer helped late as he added 8 points and 4 rebounds.
Up Next
Stockton is going to move to 13-4 on the season as they continue to sit atop the Western Conference. It’s a team that has many weapons that can hurt you at any time. They will take on a Grand Rapids team that has struggled for much of the season in their next outing.
The Cruise have found themselves faced against two of the best teams in the league in back-to-back games. They will fall to 5-11 on the season but will have a chance to take a breath as they are off until Friday. Oklahoma City will come to Wayne State Fieldhouse for back-to-back nights. The Blue come in near the bottom of the Western Conference but are coming off a monumental win over the same Stockton team that the Cruise just fell to.
