By Dave Loveton
Director of Media Relations

dave@losangeleslightning.net

Game 19 – Lightning 132, Arizona Flame 120

Friday, June 20, 2008  

Fast start carries Lightning over Flame

     Murray, Vinson combine for 51 in home victory

 THOUSAND OAKS – Lamond Murray scored 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds, leading the L.A. Lightning to a 132-120 triumph over the Arizona Flame on Friday night at the Gilbert Sports Arena.

 Fred Vinson added 23 points for the Lightning (8-11), who jumped out a 27-17 lead after one quarter of the IBL game. Jonathan Heard scored 27 for the Flame, who trimmed the deficit to one, 44-43, on a layup by Leon Fiaherty with 3:58 to go in the first half.

 L.A. regained control with a 10-4 run, ignited by a 3-pointer by Wayne Oliver. The Lightning led 59-50 at intermission and the lead never got below nine in the second half, thanks to 60 percent shooting by the home team.

 Keith Closs, a 7-3 center who played three seasons with the Clippers, had an outstanding game for L.A. with 14 points (on 6-6 shooting), 17 rebounds and eight blocked shots. Ronell Mingo missed a double-double by one rebound (16 points, nine boards) while IBL assist leader Sufi Kamran tossed in 16 points and matched his average with 12 assists.

 The Lightning shot 50.5 percent for the game while holding the Flame to 21.1 percent from the 3-point line (8-38).

 “On a scale of 1-10, we were about a 6, especially on the defensive end,” said L.A. coach Ron Quarterman, whose team was outrebounded for the fifth straight game, 66-63.

 Murray, an 11-year NBA veteran, scored his 28 points in just 34 minutes and converted 11-18 from the charity stripe. Billy Knight added nine points, seven rebounds and four assists.

 The Lightning will complete its 20-game regular season on Saturday night at Cal Lutheran with a 7:30 p.m. contest against Arizona.