By Dave Loveton, Director of Media Relations

Game 9 – Lightning 157, China Shanxi Zhongyu 109

  Lightning erupts for 19 treys in 48-point win

THOUSAND OAKS – Toby Bailey and Billy Knight sparkled in their debut for the L.A. Lightning on Friday night at Cal Lutheran, combining for 47 points on 64 percent shooting in a 157-109 rout of the China Shanxi Zhongyu.

 The Lightning (3-6) won their third straight IBL basketball game, thanks to season highs in points, points in a quarter (50 in the third) and 3-pointers (19-of-47).

 Bailey, a former UCLA star who just returned from a stint in the Spanish pro league, scored 10 of his 22 points in the first quarter, helping his team to a 29-14 lead.

 Knight, another ex-Bruin who was playing in France, came off the bench to hit 9-14 from the field and led eight L.A. players in double figures with 25. Phil Givens added 20 points, Ronell Mingo tossed in 19 and Kevin Lewis recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

 Lamond Murray, the Lightning’s top scorer at 26 per game, had 17 points and drained four 3-pointers, as did Givens. Coach Ron Quarterman used all 12 of his players and none played more than 25 minutes.

 L.A. nailed 40.4 percent from downtown and outscored the expansion Chinese team 57-9 from beyond the arc.

 Yu Tao led all scorers with 31 points and 12 boards for the Zhongyu (0-2) while Sun Chun Lei added 26. The Chinese commited 29 turnovers and shot just 33 percent in the first half.

  The Lightning went on a 24-7 run to open the second quarter, capped by a 3-pointer from Knight that made it 53-21 with 6:14 to go. L.A. led by 29, 68-39, at intermission and then outscored the visitors 50-33 in the third period to stretch the margin to 46 entering the fourth period.

 L.A. has registered a new season-high in points during its 3-game win streak, going from 128 to 146 to 157.

 The same teams will meet on Saturday night at Cal Lutheran with the tip set for 7:30 p.m.