BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — The Motor City Cruise used a dominant third-quarter surge to pull away from the Birmingham Squadron and secure a 109-94 victory in a G League matchup Thursday night at Legacy Arena.

The game was tightly contested through the first half, with both teams trading leads and neither able to establish a significant advantage. The first quarter ended in a 29-29 deadlock, and Birmingham managed to take a slim 53-52 lead into halftime behind efficient outside shooting.

The decisive shift came after the break. The Cruise defense stiffened, holding the Squadron to just 18 points in the third quarter while Motor City’s offense found a consistent rhythm to pour in 30. A key sequence early in the period saw the Cruise capitalize on Birmingham turnovers, with Chaz Lanier connecting on a 3-pointer and a driving dunk to ignite a run. The defensive pressure continued, forcing the Squadron into rushed shots and mistakes, allowing Motor City to build a double-digit lead it would not relinquish.

The Cruise extended its advantage in the fourth quarter, leading by as many as 25 points before both teams emptied their benches. Motor City’s balanced attack and superior ball movement in the second half proved too much for Birmingham, which could not mount a sustained comeback.

The win improved Motor City’s record to 10-15 on the season, while Birmingham fell to 9-18. The two teams are scheduled to meet again at Legacy Arena on Saturday.

Birmingham was led by Jaden Springer, who paced the Squadron’s offense. Johnny O’Neil provided a spark off the bench with multiple 3-pointers in the first half. For Motor City, Tolu Smith anchored the interior, facilitating the offense and protecting the rim, while contributions came from across the roster during the game-breaking run.

The outcome defied the pregame statistical projection, which had favored the Squadron to win at home. Motor City’s victory marked a positive start to a brief two-game road trip, while Birmingham continued to search for consistency amid a challenging stretch of its schedule.