Bandits win again

The Las Vegas Silver Bandits could have let the foul calls destroy their focus -- after all, 63 combined team fouls is a lot, no matter the level of basketball.

But the Bandits kept their composure and let the St. Louis Swarm disintegrate in the fourth quarter en route to a 99-94 victory Sunday in front of an announced 1,492 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Las Vegas (15-11) benefited from the referees' overactive whistles by hitting 34-of-44 from the free-throw line for just over 33 percent of their points. The Swarm made good on 22-of-35 from the stripe.

"That's been the difference between our losing streak and this winning streak is that we are getting the calls and making our free throws down the stretch," said backup point guard Mark Wade.

The win was the Bandits' second in three consecutive games against the first-place Swarm (14-7) and pulled Las Vegas within a game-and-a-half of first place in the International Basketball League's West Conference.

With Las Vegas up 95-93 with 1:40 to play, Swarm center Doug Smith went to the line with a chance to tie but made good on just one free throw.

That's when Bandits reserve forward Harold Ellis took over.

Ellis was fouled on a shot with 41 seconds left after making an inside move toward the basket. He made both free throws to give Las Vegas a 97-94 lead.

On St. Louis' next possession, Ellis intercepted a pass from guard Erwin Claggett near the top of the three-point arc and dunked it on the other end to clinch the win.

"I knew our team needed a stop," Ellis said.

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