Road-tested Jam win again at Palm Beach

The Jacksonville Jam (16-6) have been on the road a lot this season thus far playing 13 of their first 22 games on the road. On Wednesday evening the Jam achieved a very rare feat on any level in basketball, they defeated a team on their opponents homecourt for the 5TH consecutive time in one season with a 102-90 victory over the Palm Beach Imperials (6-12).

Jam head coach, Steve Tucker is impressed with what he has seen his team do on the road this season! "All I can say is WOW! These guys have truly persevered under difficult circumstances with our schedule being so difficult this season. Sometimes a schedule just falls that way, and it has for us this season, but no one has complained and we've just played the schedule that was given to us. The good thing is that 9 of our last 14 regular season games are here on our homecourt at UNF Arena. I really hope the basketball fans in Jacksonville will come out and start packing our Arena every night, for this is really a special team to watch play!"

The Jam started off fast on Wednesday night against the Imperials and jumped out to a 6 point lead early 14-8. Trey Moore, the Jam's leading scorer this season had an early hot hand scoring 6 of the Jam's first 14 points. Moore finished the first quarter with 10 points and the Jam led 26-23 at the end of the first period.

In the second quarter the Jam stayed sharp and led by as many as 10 points, but Carl Jenkins spurred an Imperials run and Palm Beach cut into the Jam lead, and found themselves down by only 3 points at half-time 49-46.

In the third quarter Palm Beach came out determined the end the Jam's winning streak over them thus far this season streaking out to a 10-3 run to start off the quarter. With the Imperials up 58-52 the Jam went on an 8-2 run and when Donald Harris nailed a deep two point jump shot from the left baseline the score was knotted at 60-60 with 5:30 to play in the third quarter. The Jam quickly jumped out to a 66-62 lead with baskets by Moore and Jam power forward, DeRon Rutledge. Jacksonville led 77-71 at the end of the quarter.

In the fourth quarter the Jam controlled the tempo and continued to fight off the Imperials. Bobby St. Preux cut the Jacksonville lead to 83-81 with 8:22 to play on a backdoor cut. The Jam answered with a jumper by Moore and two jump shots by newcomer, Matt Luedtke to extend their lead to 89-81 with five minutes to play. The Jam handled the Imperials full-court pressure to score easy baskets down the stretch and cruised to victory once again over the Imperials by 12 points, 102-90.

The Jam was led to victory by another excellent performance by guard, Trey Moore. Moore scored a game high 25 points, had 6 rebounds, and dished out 6 assist. DeRon Rutledge and another newcomer, Nick Wallery posted double doubles with Rutledge scoring 20 points and pulling down 12 rebounds and Wallery scoring 17 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. Harris chipped in 13 points for the game, and point guard, Anthony Lumpkin dished out a game high, 9 assist. St. Preux led Palm Beach once again with 21 points.

Jacksonville returns home Friday night to their homecourt at UNF Arena to host visiting Buffalo. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:05pm. COME OUT AND BE A PART OF THE FRIDAY NIGHT JAM!!!

JAM NOTES:

* The Jacksonville Jam played without forward, Jerry Williams on Wednesday night. Williams is day to day with a strained leg muscle.

* Jam guard, Trey Moore is one of the top scorers in the ABA this season with a 25.4 scoring average.

* The Jam moved their road record to 9-4 for the season and hold a 7-2 record at home thus far this season.

* Jacksonville was ranked as the #7 ranked team in this week's ABA Power Ranking. The Arkansas Aeros still hold down the #1 ranking followed by Vermont, Texas, Miami, Rochester, Minnesota and the Jam.