LAWSON DEBUTS WITH DOUBLE-DOUBLE LEAVING OKC BLUE

FRISCO, TX, (Jan. 21, 2023) – AJ Lawson made a statement in his Legends debut, pulling out a double-double to lead the Texas Legends (4-6) to a 121-117 victory over the Oklahoma City Blue (3-7). 

The Blue opened the game with a 6-0 run and took their largest lead of the night 11-4 in the early minutes.  Texas responded with 11 unanswered points to take the lead and finished the first up 34-29.  Texas had built up a double-digit gap two minutes in, but another Blue run (14-4) brought the visitors within two.  The Legends pulled away slowly as the minutes ticked and Olin Carter had the final say before the buzzer to give the home team the 66-56 advantage at the break.

Texas’ lead grew to 13 in the third (their largest of the night) but Jahmi’us Ramsey put up 12 points in 7 minutes to cut OKC’s deficit.  Ramsey had the visitors up by two, but Todd Withers responded with a long ball to put Texas back in control, helping the home team stay on top 99-94 at the third break.  The Legends were back up by 10 early in the fourth but Oklahoma City hit a 12-2 run to tie it up midway through.  With 2:25 to play, the Blue took possession 117-116, but Grant Riller finished 2-for-2 at the line and Tyler Hall sealed the victory with the final made basket from outside. 

Lawson finished with 28 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and a block.  Riller added 20 points, 3 rebounds and 7 assists, and Hall and Taze Moore came off the bench for 17 points, 4 rebounds each.  Carter tagged on 14 points, 5 assists, and Tyler Dorsey’s 12 points, 5 rebounds rounded out the double-digit scores. 

Ramsey led the Blue with 25 points off the bench while Adam Mokoka added 24 points, 8 rebounds.  Noah Starkey had a team-high 11 rebounds and 3 blocks and Abdul Gaddy dished out 11 assists to go with 7 points. Texas hits the road to take on the Austin Spurs this Thursday at 7:30pm.  Fans can catch all the action live at www.TexLegends.com and on the Legends Facebook page.