The Fort Wayne Mad Ants (13-11) defeated the Erie BayHawks (11-12), 120-119, at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum on Friday night. After Fort Wayne rallied from an 18-point deficit, Omari Johnson's fadeaway as time expired in regulation, propelled the Mad Ants to its fourth win in five games to tip off the new year. Johnson finished the night with 20 points and 14 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Johnson was set up for the game winner after Davon Reed rejected Atlanta Hawks two-way forward Alex Poythress at the rim with 12 seconds to go in the final quarter. Poythress, the former Fort Wayne Mad Ant, capped his night with 34 points, 28 coming in the first half. Friday was only his third game of the season with Erie. Stephan Hicks and Rob Gray led the Mad Ants with 22 points each to erase the deficit for its eighth win at the Coliseum this season. Gray scored eight-consecutive points in the fourth quarter to give the Mad Ants its first lead of the second half with 4:25 to go in the game. Pacers assignee Ike Anigbogu totaled his seventh double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Jordan Sibert and Isaac Humphries registered 26 and 23 points to give Fort Wayne all they could handle. Sibert finished the first half with 18 points on 5-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc. John Gillon pitched in 13 points and 13 assists in over 40 minutes of action for Erie. The Mad Ants return home on Monday night to take on Agua Caliente, while Erie will take on Raptors 905 on Sunday. Monday is "Money Monday" presented by 3Rivers Federal Credit Union at the Coliseum. Tickets are available by visiting ftwaynemadants.com or calling 260-469-4667. News Release
