BOXSCORE

GREAT FALLS, Montana, February 2, 2007 – Newly acquired guard Rob Griffin went off for 33 points for Pittsburgh (2-25), but Great Falls (15-10) used a big third quarter surge to take command of the ballgame and cruised to a 116-93 victory over the Xplosion in Continental Basketball Association action at Four Seasons Arena.  Lewis Monroe added 19 points for the Black and Gold.

A fast-start by Griffin helped the Xplosion get things going early as they captured the opening quarter, 26-22.  They then pushed out to a 10 point lead, 34-24, early in the second stanza.  Great Falls, however, began to assert itself sparked by the long range shooting of Keith Salscheider.  The Explorers would outscore the Xplosion, 29-20 in the second quarter and closed the frame on a 10-0 run to take a 51-46 lead at intermission.

The third quarter proved to be the undoing for the Xplosion, as they were outscored 34-13, digging a 26-point deficit that that would prove to be too much to overcome.

The Xplosion won the fourth quarter, 34-31, to salvage two of seven quarter points.

Great Falls proved to be extremely efficient, shooting 51 percent (40-78) from the field, and torched Pittsburgh from long range connecting on 14-26 three-point attempts.  The Xplosion shot 37 percent (33-88) from the floor and just 6 of 23 from beyond the arc.  The Black and Gold committed just 12 turnovers, but were hammered on the glass by Great Falls 57-40.

Griffin shot 10-28 from the field and 4-12 from three to collect his 33 points.  Monroe finished with 19 points and Greg Jenkins (14 points) and Shawn Hawkins (10 points) also reached double figures.  Kevin Pittsnogle contributed just nine points on 3-6 shooting.

Salscheider led a balanced attack for Great Falls, pacing seven Explorers in double-figures with 21 points, including 6-10 threes. 

The Xplosion and Explorers square-off again on Saturday evening at 9:05 PM Eastern Time in Great Falls, before taking a break for the CBA All-Star Break.