Austin Toros 96, Dakota Wizards 106

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AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER - After taking Game 1 of their first round series on the road against the Dakota Wizards, the Austin Toros were in prime position to complete the first round sweep on their home floor.

But instead, the Toros shot 3-22 from 3-point range (14%) and lost 106-96 to the Wizards. The Toros now face Dakota in a deciding Game 3 of their first round series of the D-League Playoffs on Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Austin Convention Center.

“They were tougher, they were scrappy, and that’s kind of the team we’ve been the majority of the year,” Toros head coach Quin Snyder said after the game.

Alonzo Gee was the key to the game for the Toros. When the Toros were outscored 40-29 in the first quarter, it was the lack of assertiveness from Gee, especially on the defensive end, that fueled the Wizards. And when the Toros went into the fourth quarter down just one, Dakota went on a 9-0 run to start the period on the back of Gee’s struggles.

“He wasn’t very good. He needs to be better,” coach Snyder said. “And he will be.”

But despite the disappointing performance from their best player, shooting 14% from behind the 3-point line and a generally bad game all around, the Toros still lost by just 10 points and were in the game throughout.

With all that went wrong, shouldn’t there be a silver lining for Sunday’s Game 3?

“I hope so,” coach Snyder said. “I think we’ll be better. I just hope we’re good enough to win.”