LOS ANGELES -- Kyrylo Fesenko, on assignment from the Utah Jazz , posted 17 points and 13 rebounds in helping the Utah Flash defeat the Los Angeles D-Fenders 110-100 at Staples Center Friday afternoon.
Los Angeles guard Joe Crawford set a franchise record by scoring 44 points on 15-of-25 shooting in the loss. That mark is tops in the NBA Development League for the 2008-09 season. Los Angeles lost its third straight game, dropping their record to 4-12. Utah (9-8) scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter, helping the Flash pull away for the victory.
Fesenko led the attack inside for Utah, where they dominated the D-Fenders. Utah outrebounded Los Angeles 48-28 and controlled the paint, outscoring the D-Fenders by 16.
"I thought our guys played hard," said D-Fenders head coach Dan Panaggio. "(Utah) dominated the inside on us. They were bigger, stronger. We played a little shorthanded, we were playing with four smalls and they just wore us down."
Dontell Jefferson led all Flash scorers with 25 while Gavin Grant chipped in with 14 points and eight rebounds. The Flash bench outperformed Los Angeles' reserves, outscoring the D-Fenders 40-19, led by Ryan Diggs and Carlos Wheeler who scored 11 and 10 respectively.
Darren Cooper (15), Dwayne Mitchell (11), Brandon Heath (11), and Anthony Coleman (10) rounded out the D-Fenders double figure scorers. Los Angeles moved the ball well recording assists on 26 of their 36 field goals.
"(Crawford) did a great job. I'm happy for him. He put a lot of energy out there;" added Panaggio on Crawford's scoring outburst.
Los Angeles started the game hot outscoring Utah 35-23 behind 17 first quarter points from Joe Crawford. Their lead, as big as 15 points, quickly disappeared as Utah went on a 26-6 run to regain the lead. Utah never relinquished the lead extending their lead to as many as 12.
The D-Fenders travel to Reno for two games against the division rivals Bighorns on Sunday and Tuesday. Utah will face off with the Skyforce on Tuesday in Sioux Falls.
