Austin Toros Rematch Idaho Stampede in Playoffs

The Austin Toros were the one team without a choice yesterday afternoon - the last of the four teams allowed to select their first round opponent for the D-League playoffs that begin tomorrow. After the Erie Bayhawks, Bakersfield Jam, and Dakota Wizards were chosen by the Colorado 14ers, Utah Flash, and Iowa Energy respectively, the Toros were left with the fifth-ranked Idaho Stampede, a rematch of last year’s D-League finals.

The first round of the playoffs is single-elimination - the Toros will play the Stampede on Wednesday night at 7:30 PM at Concordia University. Tickets are available now by calling 236-8333.

The Toros played the Idaho Stampede twice this season and lost both games - 105 to 94 on December 5 at home and 97 to 94 on January 3 in Idaho. The Toros put together nine straight victories against opposition in between those two games.

The Austin Toros host a Basketball Skills Competition at the 2009 Texas Testosterone Festival. More details as they are available.

Toros Top Wizards in OT

It was a see-saw battle at the Austin Convention Center last night as the Austin Toros watched a 19 point deficit in the second half erode while the Wizards took a four point lead with 9.6 seconds left. Malik Hairston hit two free throws to send the game into Overtime. The Toros won the game 128-126.

Blake Ahearn and Marcus Williams led the Toros with 29 and 25 points, respectively.

Blake Ahearn Headed to Toros

The San Antonio Spurs have assigned guard Blake Ahearn to the Austin Toros. Ahearn was the NBA D-League’s first Gatorade Call-Up of the season on Nov. 16 and is the first player in NBA D-League history to be called-up and assigned in the same season.

Last season, Ahearn played in 41 games (15 starts) for the NBA D-League’s Dakota Wizards when he earned the League’s Rookie of the Year award.