Bandits knock off Cincinnati

The Las Vegas Silver Bandits showed what a basketball team can do with good conditioning and the deepest bench in the International Basketball League Sunday night.

Despite missing the services of three key players the Bandits outran the Cincinnati Stuff 118-107 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The win was the 18th in the Bandits' (21-11) last 19 games and the third time out of three they have beaten the Stuff (24-8), the IBL's top team.

"Any time you beat the team with the best record in the league it's a good win," said Las Vegas coach Rolland Todd. "If you're going to win the whole thing they are probably the team that's going to be there in the finals."

Starters Doug Lee (hamstring) and Rocky Wells (back) were joined by reserve guard Mark Wade in street clothes on the Las Vegas bench. The Bandits compensated by playing unselfishly, racking up 30 assists to Cincinnati's 20.

Forward J.R. Henderson led the way for the Bandits with 26 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Marcus Liberty -- who replaced Wells in the starting lineup -- scored 17 points, grabbed six boards and added six assists. The Bandits' had six players score in double digits.

"A lot of guys were out tonight, so we were playing with only nine guys," said DeAndre Hulett (10 points). "A lot of people had to step up tonight."

Cincinnati shot 61.5 percent in the first half to take a 63-61 halftime lead but cooled to 43.6 percent in the second while the Bandits remained hot, hitting 22-of-26 second-half shots.

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