The Osceola Magic defeated the Delaware Blue Coats by a score of 113-104. This marked the Blue Coats’ third loss in a row and their eighth loss in their last nine games. 

The Magic’s game plan on defense was clear from the beginning of the game: make life as difficult for Jeff Dowtin Jr. as possible. At every opportunity they could, the Magic sent doubles at Dowtin. In his six games played in the G League, he is the seventh leading scorer across the league, yet he struggled throughout the game to combat the double teams as he shot 7-24 from the field.

The team as a whole struggled from the field only shooting 36.8 percent from the field.

“You got to give them credit,” head coach Mike Longabardi said. “They forced us to take tough shots. We just have to shoot better it is as simple as that.”

With Dowtin having been up and down between the 76ers and the Blue Coats he has not been able to develop chemistry between him and his teammates. Even after the game today, he had to leave and go to Philadelphia to be on the bench and potentially play against the Blue Coats just two hours after playing for Delaware.

“Yeah you know he has not played down here in a little bit,” Longabardi said. “He was a little rested today, so hopefully he will be better on Tuesday.”

Colin Castleton, along with former dunk contest winner and former Delaware Blue Coat, Mac McClung did most of the damage for Osceola. Castleton scored 22 points while shooting and 10-12 from the field and diced up the Coats on the offensive end of the floor by using cuts and running pick and roles with McClung. McClung did what he did so many times with Delaware, make open threes that opened up driving opportunities where he could show off his athleticism. He finished with 19 points. 

This game also saw Isaiah Mobley play his first game at home in a month.

“He is still finding his rhythm,” Longabardi said. “Each day he is out there the restrictions will be less and less which I think will help us and help our team.”

Mobley came out of the gates a little slow off the bench.

“I feel a little rusty,” Mobley said. “Right now I am just trying to get my rhythm back, I am taking it day by day. We came close tonight, but we ultimately did not come through.

He picked up his rhythm by the end of the game and was good enough for Longabardi to close the game with him.

“The little bunnies I had in the end really helped,” Mobley said. “It was a confidence builder to see one go in. I just got to stay in the lab and work on my three, I just have to trust it, even though has not been following as much due to my injury.”

The Blue Coats will play the Magic once again on an afternoon Tuesday game in Delaware. 

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