Niang posts huge double-double in Fort Wayne season finale

Jan 12, 2017; London, United Kingdom; Indiana Pacers forward Georges Niang heads to the court before a NBA game against the Denver Nuggets at the O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports

Georges Niang posted a huge double-double and led the Fort Wayne Mad Ants to a win in their regular season finale on Saturday night. The former Cyclone scored 32 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and dished out five assists as the Mad Ants secured the No. 3 seed in the NBA D-League playoffs with a 111-108 win over the Canton Charge.

#Clutch@GeorgesNiang20 came up big down the stretch as the @TheMadAnts secured a crucial home win.

32 Points / 15 Rebounds / 5 Assists pic.twitter.com/HTSQrYJJee

— NBA D-League (@nbadleague) April 2, 2017

Niang played six games with the Indiana Pacers’ D-League affiliate during the regular season. He was re-assinged to the team on Friday to allow Fort Wayne to rest its regular starters before the playoffs.

Iowa State’s second all-time leading scorer is averaging 19 points and seven rebounds in his games with Fort Wayne this season. He’s played in 23 games and averaged 0.9 points per game in his rookie season with the Pacers.

The Mad Ants will be take on the No. 2 seed Maine Red Claws in the best-of-three first round series in the D-League playoffs. Former Cyclone Abdel Nader is averaging 21.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists for the Red Claws this season.

It isn’t clear whether or not Niang will remain with Fort Wayne for the playoffs or if he’ll return to the Pacers’ bench for the stretch run of the NBA season.

Jared Stansbury

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Jared a native of Clarinda, Iowa, started as the Cyclone Fanatic intern in August 2013, primarily working as a videographer until starting on the women’s basketball beat prior to the 2014-15 season. Upon earning his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State in May 2016, Jared was hired as the site’s full-time staff writer, taking over as the primary day-to-day reporter on football and men’s basketball. He was elevated to the position of managing editor in January 2020. He is a regular contributor on 1460 KXNO in Des Moines and makes regular guest appearances on radio stations across the Midwest. Jared resides in Ankeny with his four-year-old puggle, Lolo.

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