EL SEGUNDO – The South Bay Lakers closed 2018 with a win as they beat the Northern Arizona Suns, 119-114, on Saturday night. Svi Mykhailiuk scored 47 points, the most by any player in the NBA G League this season, to lead the Lakers (10-12) to the win. Alex Caruso tallied 20 points and a franchise-record eight steals in the victory. Jawun Evans led the Suns (3-19) with a 14-point, 13-assist double-double.

The Lakers took an early 28-20 lead through one, as Mykhailiuk scored 12 points in the first quarter alone. South Bay went into the half with a 59-49 lead, as Mykhailiuk scored eight more in the second quarter. Caruso tallied seven points and three steals in the second period to extend the Lakers’ lead.

Mykhailiuk caught fire in the third quarter, scoring 17 points in the frame, to extend the South Bay lead to 91-77 after three. The Suns fought back in the fourth quarter, as George King and Peter Jok combined for 18 points in the period, but Mykhailiuk scored 10 more in the final frame to put the game away.

Evans’ double-double paced the Suns while Hollis Thompson (24 points) and King (22 points) took on the scoring load. Jok (17 points) and Aaron Epps (15 points) scored in double digits off the bench.

Mykhailiuk could not be stopped on his way to 47 points (16-23 FG, 5-9 3FG, 10-11 FT) and Caruso controlled the pace of the game, finishing with 20 points, five rebounds, four assists, one block and a career-high eight steals. Travis Wear had a complete game with 14 points, nine rebounds, a career-high six assists and two blocks, while Moe Wagner finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. Jemerrio Jones tallied five points and 12 rebounds off the bench.