Wisconsin Herd get back on winning track, edge out Fort Wayne Mad Ants

FORT WAYNE, IN Äì FEBRUARY 1: DeQuan Jones
FORT WAYNE, IN Äì FEBRUARY 1: DeQuan Jones
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FORT WAYNE, IN FEBRUARY 1: (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
FORT WAYNE, IN FEBRUARY 1: (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)

After being down for much of the game, the Wisconsin Herd staged a successful late rally over the Fort Wayne Mad Ants to earn a much needed victory early Thursday afternoon.

America’s long standing nightmare is over as the Wisconsin Herd broke their losing slump Thursday afternoon as they triumphed over the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, winning 108-99.

With yet another early tip time and the Mad Ants getting a boost with the likes of Glenn Robinson III and rookie Ike Anigbogu on assignment as well as having both of their two-way players, the Herd were facing a steeper test on Thursday morning than previously thought.

They certainly didn’t help their case once the game got underway as the Herd got off to a ragged start and the Mad Ants acted accordingly to make them pay by leading 33-17 after one.

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It was in the second quarter when the Herd started to find their footing and battled back to be within range of the Mad Ants’ lead just a few minutes into  the period.

But as it looked like the Herd were pushing the Mad Ants to an uncomfortable position, the Indiana Pacers’ affiliate turned the tables back on them as they held a 59-44 lead going into halftime.

The Herd repeated the same formula for success at the start of the second half as they were able to once again close the gap on the Mad Ants, only this time with no slippage in the latter stages of the third quarter.

After breathing down their neck for a large portion of the game, the Herd were finally able to grab a hold of their first lead at the 4:20 mark of the fourth period, which set up a tense finish between both teams.

But once the Herd were able to grab control of the game, the Mad Ants were unable to successfully counter them, thanks to clutch baskets from Joel Bolomboy and a key stop and steal from JeQuan Lewis. All that was left was for the Herd to put on the finishing touches at the free throw line after the Mad Ants looked to foul them, which helped them secure their first victory in nearly three weeks.