NAZ Suns Implode Late, Lose Fourth Straight
PRESCOTT VALLEY- The Northern Arizona Suns were looking to break a three-game losing streak on Friday night in front of 1,613 people at the Prescott Valley Event Center against the Oklahoma City Blue but lost the lead with 1.8 seconds left in the game, falling 101-97 and dropping their fourth straight contest.
“We weren’t disciplined again towards the end,” said Northern Arizona Suns Head Coach Ty Ellis following the defeat. “I just told the guys the game plan is on the board and when guys start to do their own way, that tends to happen.” MORE
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NAZ Suns Drop Third Straight Game
Following a seven-game winning streak, the Northern Arizona Suns have lost three straight after falling to the Texas Legends 115-99 at the Prescott Valley Event Center on Sunday.
“I’m very disappointed in the product we put on the floor today,” said Northern Arizona Suns Head Coach Ty Ellis after the loss. “This league is full of really good teams and really good players but I thought our guys didn’t compete.”
“There were moments where we just gave up and that is unacceptable,” Ellis continued. MORE
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NAZ Suns Fall to Warriors, Receive First Home Loss
PRESCOTT VALLEY- The Northern Arizona Suns suffered their first home loss of the season in front of 1,324 people on Wednesday night at the Prescott Valley Event Center losing to the Santa Cruz Warriors 107-93, which also broke the Suns’ seven-game winning streak.
“I don’t think we were ready for their best,” Northern Arizona Suns Head Coach Ty Ellis said after the loss. “I’ve told the guys countless times that with us being one of the better teams in the league, each team is prepared to play their best.” MORE
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Northern Arizona Suns Hold Off Energy for Seventh Straight Win
The Northern Arizona Suns completed a stretch in which they played three games in four days by beating the Iowa Energy and picking up their seventh consecutive win on Saturday night in front of 1,343 people at the Prescott Valley Event Center. The win didn t come easy as the team ended up losing a 20-point advantage in the fourth quarter and had to fight for the 113-107 victory.
“When you have this many games in this many nights and we get up by 20 or 25, we lose focus,”said Northern Arizona Suns guard Eli Millsap who scored 15 points in the win. It s all about refocusing and tuning in and just getting the win and getting out and we did that.” MORE
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Northern Arizona Suns Win Sixth Straight Game
PRESCOTT VALLEY- It was a rollercoaster game for the Northern Arizona Suns at the Prescott Valley Event Center on Friday night but a win nonetheless as the team beat the Rio Grande Valley Vipers for the second time in the three days 111-106 and in the win picking up their sixth straight victory along with pushing their record to a league-best 9-1.
“Winning two games back to back like this, it helps with our maturity and it helps with our growth,” NAZ Suns Head Coach Ty Ellis said after the game. “I want to give them the credit because we did what we were supposed to do.” MORE
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Northern Arizona Suns Have Best Record in D-League
PRESCOTT VALLEY-The wins continue to build for the Northern Arizona Suns as the team beat the Rio Grande Valley Vipers-one of the best teams in the league so far this season at the Prescott Valley Event Center on Wednesday night 110-101 to remain unbeaten at home and improve to 8-1 on the year.
“I’m so excited because we beat a really good team,” said Northern Arizona Suns head coach Ty Ellis following the game. “This team is going to be our nemesis throughout the whole year.”
The win against the Vipers adds another impressive note to an already good start to the season as the team has notched wins against some of the best teams in the league; including beating last year’s champion, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, in late November. MORE
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NAZ Suns Pick Up Fourth Straight Win
PRESCOTT VALLEY-The Northern Arizona Suns were back on the court Saturday night and continued their dominance at home beating the Reno Bighorns 130-106 at the Prescott Valley Event Center.
“We played really good basketball and we beat a really good team,” Northern Arizona Suns head coach Ty Ellis said after the victory. “This team has-I think-five current and former NBA players and so we beat a really good team. MORE
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NAZ Suns Beat Defending Champion Skyforce
PRESCOTT VALLEY-The Northern Arizona Suns took down the defending D-League Champion Sioux Falls Skyforce 98-89 on Sunday afternoon at the Prescott Valley Event Center pushing their record to 5-1 and remaining un-beaten at home so far this season.
We beat a really good team,” Ellis said following the victory. “Part of our emphasis was transition defense and pick and roll communication. I thought the guys did a phenomenal job.”
It was a close game through the first three quarters as the teams were only separated by four points or less including a tie at halftime. However, the Suns would open the fourth quarter outscoring the Skyforce 17-8 in the first few minutes highlighted by some arena-shaking dunks by Greg Mays and Derek Jones Jr. as the team kept their foot on the gas until the final buzzer sounded. MORE
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NAZ Suns Pick Up Close Win
PRESCOTT VALLEY- The Northern Arizona Suns responded with a 95-86 victory over the Reno Bighorns on Friday night at home following their first loss of the season to Los Angeles Defenders on Wednesday.
The lead changed 15 times and the teams were even 11 times as the two remained close throughout. As the game ticked to under five minutes remaining on the clock, the Suns were trailing. However, the team was able to take the lead and coast to the win, going on a 12-0 run in the final minutes of the contest.
“It was an ugly win but we did gut it out,” said Askia Booker who lead the team with 26 points in the game. “I’m happy but not satisfied.” MORE
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NAZ Suns Continue Winning Ways at Home
Following a road win against the Salt Lake City Stars on Friday night, the Northern Arizona Suns returned home and beat the Stars again 101-86 on Saturday night to push their record to 3-0 in the inaugural season.
“We beat a really good team,” said Northern Arizona Suns Head Coach Ty Ellis following the victory. “They have really good players and I’m very fortunate and blessed.”
The Suns came out of the gate hot and continued the success throughout the first half going into halftime with a 53-39 advantage. However, the Stars would jump back in the second half going on a run and decreasing the deficit in the third quarter before the Suns regained control for the victory. MORE
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Northern Arizona Suns Open with Win Over Energy
PRESCOTT VALLEY- The day basketball fans in the quad cities were waiting for finally came on Saturday night as the Northern Arizona Suns opened their inaugural season with a 122-107 victory over the Iowa Energy at the Prescott Valley Event Center.
“First game in the inaugural season, we wanted to go out there and put on a show,” said Shaquille Harrison who scored 22 points in the win. “For us to score some points and get the crowd into it, that was real huge.”
The Suns took a 61-53 lead into halftime but once the players came out from the locker room, the energy didn’t change as the team continued to put their foot on the gas and come out victorious. MORE
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Northern Arizona Suns Coming Together as Season Draws Near
PRESCOTT VALLEY- The NBA D-League season tips off in just a week for the Northern Arizona Suns and head coach Tyrone Ellis is pleased with his team and the progress made in the short time of training camp.
“I’m extremely happy with the roster,” Ellis said during the NAZ Suns media day on Friday. “The guys have all responded well, they practiced well and they have totally bought in.”
The team draws talent locally from here in Arizona, Daniel Alexander played for Grand Canyon University while Bo Barnes laced it up for Arizona State University, while also picking up players from all over country including two players with international ties as Wally Niang played the last couple of years for MoraBanc Andorra, a Spanish team in the Liga ACB league, while Gracin Bakumanya, a native of the Dominican Republic of the Congo, played in France last season.
“It’s like a potluck of information,” said Michael Bryson who was the 8th overall pick in the NBA D-League draft in late October. “You got to take everything that you can learn in the situation and take it to heart. The guy next to you has some experience in something that you may not have.” MORE
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NAZ Suns Host Second and Final Open Tryout for Inaugural Team
PRESCOTT VALLEY- Around sixty hopeful players were inside the Prescott Valley Event Center on a rainy Saturday as the new Northern Arizona Suns hosted their second and final open tryout for the 2016-2017 inaugural season.
Players came from all over the country with some swinging over to the stadium from their home in Prescott Valley, while others traveled great distances from places like Atlanta, Georgia or as far north as Fairbanks, Alaska.
Clayton Edwin traveled over 3,000 miles through plane and car from Alaska to follow his dream. Having participated in other tryouts in the past, he was pleased with the quality and structure of the event.
“I really respected the organization for their professionalism,” Edwin said. “This tryout was very high class and organized and that’s what tryouts need to be like.” MORE
Torrence Dunham 