By Dave Loveton
Director of Media Relations

dave@losangeleslightning.net

Game 20 – Lightning 140, Arizona Flame 124

Saturday, June 21, 2008  

Givens pours in 57 in Lightning win

     Mingo tallies 27 in regular-season finale  

 THOUSAND OAKS – On a hot summer night, it was raining points in Cal Lutheran’s Gilbert Sports Arena and Phil Givens had most of them.

 The 6-2 left-hander poured in 57 -- more than four times his season average -- in the L.A. Lightning’s 140-124 victory over the Arizona Flame on Saturday. He had a chance to tie the IBL single-game high this season but missed his last free throw with 21 seconds remaining.

 Givens started fast in the IBL regular-season finale, with 21 first-quarter points on 9-of-10 shooting. L.A. led 33-22 after the first 12 minutes.

 “All the other cats on the team know I can play,” said Givens, who once scored 54 in a prep summer league. “They told me, ‘Don’t think, just do what you do.’

 “I can score the ball and that’s what I focused on.”

 Ronell Mingo had a solid game with 27 points (on 11-16 shooting) and 13 rebounds for the Lightning (9-11), who will travel to Seattle next weekend for the IBL West playoffs. Greg Minor scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half and Billy Knight had all 15 of his points in the opening half, helping L.A. to a 62-48 advantage.

 Kamran Sufi, the IBL assist leader, handed out 13 dimes and 7-3 Keith Closs collected nine blocks, eight rebounds and seven points.

 Jonathan Heard led Arizona with 28 points while Johnnie Parker (23 points, 16 rebounds) and Amani Daanish (23 pts, 15 rebs) both posted double-doubles.

 Givens, a slashing driver, entered the game with a 13.7 scoring average. He made 23-35 field goals, including a trio of 3-pointers, and 8-10 free throws.

 After scoring 26 in the first half, Givens tallied 27 points in the third quarter, matching the Flame’s total. L.A. outscored the visitors 47-27 in the third period and took a 28-point lead (103-75) into the final quarter.

 “Phil is a real good player and he brought it tonight,” said Coach Ron Quarterman. “I started him and once he got it rolling, he was rolling. He’s a solid player – inside and out – and he can shoot the 3.”  

    Lamond Murray scored 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds, leading the L.A. Lightning to a 132-120 triumph over the Arizona Flame on Friday night at the Gilbert Sports Arena.