Just Like Home: Corpus Christi crowd pushes Austin Spurs to win at American Bank Center
When Jalen Harris toed the line for important free throws for the Windy City Bulls in the waning seconds of Sunday's NBA G League game at the American Bank Center, Harris may as well have been at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, the normal home of the Austin Spurs.
The assembled crowd of 3,236 roared and Harris missed the first freebie, helping the Spurs' G League affiliate hold on for a 110-105 win against the Bulls.
Given a chance to see players that could one day don the silver and black of their favorite NBA franchise, Coastal Bend residents came out sporting San Antonio Spurs gear ranging from George Gervin to David Robinson to Tony Parker and now rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama.
The first ever NBA G League regular season game held in Corpus Christi did not disappoint the fans that came out, many getting an opportunity to take photos of the Spurs' five NBA Championship trophies and the Austin Spurs and San Antonio Spurs mascots.
"We're huge Spurs fans, so any opportunity to see the Spurs, or Austin Spurs, we are definitely going to come out to see them," Esther Gil said after viewing the trophies and banners on the concourse.
The Spurs brought their home court stylized with a Corpus Christi skyline along the sideline for the game against the Bulls with both rosters dotted with talent trying to reach the pinnacle of playing full time in the NBA.
Two-way guard Jamaree Bouyea starred in the win for the Austin Spurs, tallying 24 points, four rebounds and six assists as the Spurs held off a comeback that saw Windy City overcome a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter with a furious rally.
For Melyssa Topelian, a former San Antonio resident that now lives in Corpus Christi and self described "big Spurs fan," the game was an opportunity to see the next generation of Spurs.
"This is their G League team and we have a chance to see them before they get to the Spurs," Topelian said. "You never know which of these guys are going to make it big, so we were excited to see them here. It is wonderful to be able to have this here in Corpus.
"Didn't have to get up to San Antonio because they came to us."
Sidy Cissoko scored 19 points for the Spurs and Paul Watson scored 18. David Duke Jr. had an emphatic exclamation point slam dunk to close the game out for Austin.
Corpus Christi residents Gil and Robert Ripley have a partial season ticket package for Spurs home games, but when they heard about the opportunity to see Austin play in the Coastal Bend they jumped at the chance.
In addition to Sunday's game, the San Antonio Spurs held a Fan Fest at Whataburger Field on Saturday and the Spurs Youth Basketball League held a free clinic in conjunction with the Coastal Bend YMCA.
Windy City was paced by Harris and two former March Madness standouts, Adama Sanogo (UConn), who had 18 points and 18 rebounds and Ryan Arcidiacano (Villanova, 14 points).
Ripley is hopeful that the strong fan support shown Sunday could lead to more appearances from the Spurs organization in Corpus Christi.
"We have half season tickets for the Spurs and we go up there when we can to enjoy the games," Ripley said. "When they announced they had something here we were excited. We're hopefull maybe they could bring a game next year. That would be awesome."
More: San Antonio Spurs plan weekend of events in Corpus Christi around G League game
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Austin Spurs top Windy City in first Corpus Christi G League game
