Glasgow Rocks hoping for Kelvin Hall lift in BBL play-off clash with Plymouth Raiders

Apr 27 2012

EJ Harrison

GLASGOW ROCKS captain EJ Harrison is banking on the Kelvin Hall crowd helping his side overturn last night's quarter final first leg defeat at Plymouth Raiders.

The Rocks went down 84-79 after a strong fourth quarter performance from Plymouth saw them come back from five points behind.

But the match is nicely poised ahead of Sunday's second leg in Glasgow as both sides chase a place in the last four.

Harrison notched 12 points and said afterwards: "It's good to be at home in the second leg. That's always an advantage."

Rocks ace Mychal Green led the scoring with 27 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds to complete a double-double and keep Sterling Davis' men in the hunt.

After an even opening Glasgow went on a 15-6 run that had them leading 22-13.

Paul Williams' and-one play brought Raiders back to within five, before both sides scored their final six points of the quarter off four three-pointers to make the score 28-23 with the Rocks having made four out of five three-point attempts at the end of the first period.

PLymouth then stormed back into the match as Jeremy Bell contribute 13 points without missing a shot backed up by four successful three pointers from his team to take the lead at 50-48.

The scoring slowed in the third period as the Rocks defence limited Plymouth to making three of 13 shots and two free throws for nine points total, with both Gareth Murray and DeAundre Cranston blocking shots.

The home defence also limited the Rocks' shooting, keeping them to making one of six three-point attempts. But narrowly outscoring the Raiders in the close quarter put the Rocks up 67-62 after three quarters.

However, the fourth quarter saw the Raiders take charge of the game, crashing the boards to outrebound their opponents 17-5 with Paul Williams pulling down six boards and Tomas Janusauskas grabbing a further five.

In the end the 84-79 victory means the tie remains finely poised as the two sides prepare to face each other in the second leg on Sunday at Kelvin Hall, with the game tipping off at 5pm.