GAME REPORT: Rocks unable to secure back to back wins over Wolves

Worcester Wolves 93 – 74 Glasgow Rocks

Report by Alan Caldwell / Images by JS Sport photography

Glasgow looking to secure back to back wins over the Wolves where unable to do so down in Worcester as a five minute, second quarter flurry from the Wolves is enough to give them a lead and see them out winners on the night.

Coming off a win against the Wolves just last Sunday at home the Rocks where feeling confident going into this one as they looked to keep the pace up at the start, knowing another victory would give them some momentum for the rest of the BBL season.

Despite this, unfortunately for the Rocks it was the Wolves who come out the traps fast, opening up the first quarter with a 6-0 run off of Anderson’s quick four points in the contest. It was Gareth Murray who broke this run with a three of his own to get the Rocks their first points of the contest.

The first five minutes of the game brought about a slow scoring start for each team who looked very evenly matched on the night. Thanks a jump shot from Van Sauers and Ronald Delph the Wolves had a one point lead early on in the contest.

The two teams continued to go back and forth in the first quarter of the game with the Wolves threatening to take a lead on the game again they went on a mini 4-0 run to push their lead to six on the night, but fortunately for the Rocks this was the biggest lead Worcester had in the quarter as another jump shot from Murray and four points from Keeling, including a coast to coast lay up, cut the Wolves lead back to just two.

The first quarter ended a tight encounter between the two teams as Wolves, Micah Elan hit a jump shot with seven seconds left on the clock to give the Wolves a slender 19-17 lead, however the Rocks could take away plenty of positives from how they opened up this game.

The second quarter was much like the first with both teams going back and forth replying to each other’s baskets and with 7 minutes left in the quarter it was a driving layup by Murray who gave the Rocks their first lead on the night going up 23-21.

The Rocks continued to trade baskets with the Wolves and break down their defence as Isa Brandon beat the teams press to make a driving lay up and restore Glasgow’s two point lead on the night with both teams continuing to look evenly matched on the night.

Going into the interval the Rocks offence seemed to slow down as the team where struggling to get their shots to drop, which in turn then gave the the Wolves an opportunity, as they went on a 19-4 run to take back the lead 40-29, which was the biggest lead of the game for either team so far.

The last 5 minutes of the second quarter going into half-time couldn’t of went much worse for the Rocks as they went from being two up in the ball game to now down 44-31 at halftime with the Wolves out scoring them 25-14 in the second quarter thanks to Anderson’s game high 15 at the break, whilst Keeling (8pts) and Murray (7pts) lead the way for Glasgow.

Going into the third quarter there was still hope for the Rocks to pull the game back as the contest would’ve been a lot closer had it not been for those last five minutes of the first half as the other 15 minutes of the half had the Rocks up 27-26.

The Wolves looked confident coming out for the second half as that run to end the second quarter gave them a lead to work with on the night, it was Mcswiggan who hit his third three of the game to push the Wolves lead out, however determined not to go down with a fight Bunyan replied back with a three of his own, which gave Glasgow just their second made three on the night previously going 2/14 (14%) highlighting their struggles offensively in this game.

Again it was Mcswiggan who kept the pressure on Glasgow as he hit another two three pointers in a row to give him five on the night and a joint game high 15 points with Anderson, but it wasn’t without reply as Keeling hit two three-pointers of his own in between the Mcswiggan two.

Looking to keep the contest competitive going into the fourth quarter it was four quick points from Delph and three made free throws from Fraser Malcom to close the quarter out for the Rocks, however the Wolves on the night had a 68-49 lead over the Rocks as the they outscored them 24-18 in the third, Glasgow were unable to cut the first half deficit down to single digits going into the fourth which would’ve still gave them a chance in the game.

With a 19 point deficit going into the fourth quarter it was time for the Rocks to just focus on playing for pride and cutting down the Worcester lead to as little as possible.

13 points from Isa Brandon in the fourth quarter followed by points from Keeling and Delph saw both teams score evenly in the fourth, however it Brandon Anderson who kept the Wolves lead as large as it was with 11 points of his own in the fourth quarter, he was the games leading scorer finishing with 26 points as the Wolves come away with a 93-74 victory over the Rocks.

Three players finished in double digit scoring for the Rocks as Keeling finished with 16 points, Jacdonmi with 10 and Isa Brandon with a team high 17 off the bench, shooting an impressive 8/11 on the night.

The Rocks now get ready to focus on tomorrow’s game against the Bristol Flyers as they look to finish off their weekend road trip in style with a win.

For game stats CLICK HERE.

For the match replay see below:

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