Flash picks up dramatic win

OREM — For the second straight game, Utah Flash guard Michael Cuffee hit an important 3-pointer from the same spot in the right corner with one second left to go in the game.

"I guess we're going to have to start calling that Cuffee's corner over there," Flash coach Brad Jones said.

This time, Cuffee was fouled hard, but he made the shot and the free throw for a dramatic four-point play and a 102-99 lead.

Unlike the Dakota Wizards, who followed with a buzzer beater to win the game that Cuffee tied, the Bakersfield Jam were unable to get a 3-pointer of their own to send the game into overtime.

"I was just happy to make it," Cuffee said. "I was missing all night. Even though I got fouled, I just tried to concentrate when I went up. The game was on the line, and we needed that basket."

Utah improved to 2-2 on the season, while Bakersfield fell to 0-3.

The Flash got off to a slow start for the second game in a row, quickly falling behind 8-0 after less than two minutes. Utah rallied to tie the score at 11, finally taking their first lead at 21-20 at the end of the first quarter.

The Flash got off to a fast start in the second quarter, maintaining a double-digit lead through much of the quarter and going to the locker room with a 54-44 lead.

Utah started slowly in the second half, much the way they did in the first. It took the Jam less than five minutes to cut Utah's lead to one at 63-62.

The Jam took advantage of another slow Utah start, needing just over a minute to turn an 80-76 deficit to an 83-80 lead at the start of the fourth quarter.

The teams battled back and forth for most of the rest of the game, with the Flash never quite able to take the lead until Cuffee's dramatic shot.

Wallace scored a layup on a fast break to cut the deficit to one with 33 seconds to go, and center Kyrylo Fesenko and the rest of the Flash forced the Jam into a bad shot at the other end.

Wallace grabbed the rebound and got the ball to Kruger, who pushed the ball down the court before passing to Cuffee, who made the shot and converted the four-point play.

Kruger and Wallace led the Flash with a pair of double-doubles — Kruger had 17 points and 12 assists, while Wallace had 16 points and 13 rebounds. Centers Fesenko and James Lang and guards Cuffee and Brian Hamilton were also in double figures.

Forward Scooter McFadgon came off the bench to lead the Jam with 24 points while forward James Peters and guard Anthony Wilkins added 21 and 19 points.