Bucknell University Athletics
Cameron Ayers, Mike Muscala Off to Strong Starts in NBA Summer League Play
7/14/2014 10:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Recent Bucknell graduates Cameron Ayers '14 and Mike Muscala '13 are both participating in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, and both have had bright moments so far. Muscala, who just completed his rookie year with the Atlanta Hawks, recorded a 15-point, 15-rebound game on Sunday, while Ayers was one of the catalysts in the New Orleans Pelicans' incredible comeback in Friday's win over the NBA D-League Select Team.
Muscala has been the starting center in both of Atlanta's games to start Summer League play. In the Hawks' opener against Washington on Saturday, Muscala produced 11 points and five rebounds in 26 minutes of action. One day later he made four of his five 2-point attempts and all seven free throws in that 15-point, 15 rebound double-double against the D-League Select Team. He was the only player in that game with more than seven rebounds, and he also tallied three assists and a blocked shot in 30 minutes.
A two-time Patriot League Player of the Year, Muscala was a second-round selection in the 2013 NBA Draft, and after starting the year in Spain's top division he was signed by the Hawks in February. Muscala played in 20 regular-season games and two playoff games with Atlanta, averaging 3.8 points and 2.6 rebounds off the bench. He scored four points in 19 minutes in his NBA debut in Phoenix on March 2, and he closed the regular season with a career-high 15 points on 6-for-8 shooting in a win over Milwaukee. Muscala finished the year 14-for-14 from the free-throw line, and he is already 14-for-14 in the two Summer League games.
Ayers was the 2014 Patriot League Player of the Year after averaging 15.4 points per game for the Bison. Ayers signed a Summer League contract with the Pelicans, where his father Randy is currently an assistant coach, and his debut game proved to be quite memorable.
New Orleans trailed 79-62 with just over four minutes to play, but the Pelicans stormed back to take the lead with an 18-0 run. Consecutive 3-pointers by Ayers capped the run, including the go-ahead trey with 26 seconds remaining. The D-League squad scored with 12 seconds left before Josh Carter hit another 3-pointer with 0:03 on the clock to give the Pelicans a thrilling 83-81 win.
Ayers scored six points in 13 minutes on Friday, and then he went scoreless in six minutes in New Orleans' win over the Lakers on Sunday.
Tuesday's Summer League schedule will feature a 4 p.m. clash between Muscala and former Patriot League rival C.J. McCollum of Lehigh as the Hawks take on the Portland Trail Blazers.
