D-League basketball: Flash roll to season-opening win

TULSA, Okla. — The Utah Flash opened the 2009-10 regular season with a 100-85 victory over the Tulsa 66ers on Friday at the Tulsa Convention Center.

Utah jumped out to an 11-point lead early in the second quarter, following a 10-4 run capped by a Carlos Wheeler lay-up. Tulsa tied the game at 56 apiece five minutes into the third quarter following a 12-5 run of their own at the end of the second and early third quarter. A subsequent 16-3 run by the Flash in the third quarter, led by Dontell Jefferson's six points within the run, put Utah in front 62-73 with 1:22 remaining in the period.

The Flash shot 48 percent (34-of-71) from the field compared to 39.5 percent (32-of-81) from the field for the 66ers. The Flash also finished with an advantage both at the free throw line, 29-of-37 compared to 14-of-18, and in rebounding margin (49-36) over the 66ers.

The Flash were led by Jefferson's game-high 18 points, while Orien Greene came off the bench to score 17 points, grab eight rebounds and dish out five assists. Gavin Grant added 17 points, while Andre Ingram pitched in 14 points, and former University of Utah standout Luke Nevill added 11 points and nine rebounds for Utah. Wheeler had the Flash's lone double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The 66ers finished with six players in double-figure scoring, led by Moses Ehambe with 15 points, including 3-for-6 from 3-point range. Larry Owens, Keith Clark, Mustafa Shakur and Oklahoma City Thunder assignee Byron Mullens each added 14 points. Clark and Mullens also grabbed 10 boards apiece for Tulsa. Cecil Brown added 10 points off the bench for the 66ers.

Both teams will match-up tonight for the second game of the back-to-back set at Tulsa.