FOURTH QUARTER PUSH LIFTS MINOT OVER XPLOSION, 92-82

BOXSCORE

MINOT, ND , February 28, 2007 – Shawn Hawkins scored 19 points to lead Pittsburgh (5-32), but Minot (24-12) used a fourth quarter surge to take control of a game that was tied after three quarters to record a 92-82 victory in Continental Basketball Association action at the Minot Civic Center.

The Black and Gold led for the bulk of the first quarter, but the Skyrockets closed the opening stanza on a 10-0 run to take the lead after 12 minutes, 23-17.

Trailing by eight points in the second quarter, the Xplosion got back on track. A 13-0 run that featured three-point baskets by Hawkins and Lawrence Baker, carried the Black and Gold into the lead, 40-35. Pittsburgh led at intermission, 47-42.

Minot began to swing the game back in its favor during the third quarter, outscoring Pittsburgh, 20-15, in the stanza to tie the game at 62-62. The Skyrockets would take the lead early in the fourth quarter, but it remained a one posession game with 4:30 left to play. Minot would go on to outscore Pittsburgh, 13-5, the rest of the way to pull away for the win.

In addition to Hawkins, Lewis Monroe scored 14 points; Baker, Rob Griffin, Greg Jenkins and Kevin Pittsnogle added 10 points apiece.

Jason Smith paced Minot with 32 points and nine rebounds. Desmond Ferguson chipped in with 21.

The Xplosion returns home on Saturday, March 3 against the Albany Patroons at Mellon Arena and Sunday, March 4 against Indiana at the Petersen Events Center. Action both nights tips-off at 7:00 PM. For more information visit www.pittsburghxplosion.com or call the Xplosion ticket office at (877) 410-9900.