A smothering second half defense ignited the Skyforce as they topped the Austin Spurs 105-82 on Tuesday night at the Sanford Pentagon.

Going into the game Sioux Falls Head Coach Nevada Smith stated a goal of holding the visitors to under 40 percent shooting. Smith’s team was able to deliver the goods.

"We're starting to trust each other. We've been talking about making sure that when one guy goes to help someone's got to help the helper. We did a really good job with it tonight as our ball pressure was really good. We forced them out of their offense by forcing things a little bit higher (closer to mid-court). That's what we needed to do."

Rookie guard Marcus Posley who finished with 10 points says the game plan was to slow Austin down and mainly in the second half they succeeded.

"Watching them on film, they wanted to take quick shots and get their shooters open.(Jarell) Eddie got hot, but we cooled him off in the second half. We stuck a player on him and limited his movements and open looks. Then we tried to make them beat us from the outside."

The Skyforce had seven players in double figures and three with double-doubles led by Okaro White with 24 points and 13 rebounds, Keith Benson’s 13 points and 10 rebounds and Briante Weber creeping toward triple double territory with 10 points, 12 assists and 8 boards.

Sioux Falls will head west for their next contest when they take on Santa Cruz Friday evening. Austin will continue their road trip with a Friday game at Grand Rapids.

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