WALKER, Mich. (Interstat) — The Motor City Cruise used a dominant first half and held off a furious second-half rally by the Grand Rapids Gold to secure a 125-114 victory in a G League matchup on Thursday night at DeltaPlex Arena.

The Cruise established control early, erupting for 39 points in the opening quarter and extending their lead to 69-52 by halftime. Grand Rapids, which entered the game with a 15-13 record, struggled to contain Motor City’s balanced attack in the first two periods.

The second half saw a dramatic shift as the Gold came alive offensively. Grand Rapids poured in 34 points in the third quarter, spearheaded by a sharp-shooting display from Dane Goodwin. The shooting guard keyed a run that brought the Gold back into contention, cutting deeply into what had been a sizable Motor City advantage.

Despite Grand Rapids’ surge, the Cruise managed to maintain their composure and a narrow lead entering the final quarter. Each time the Gold threatened to draw even, Motor City answered with critical baskets. The home team sealed the game in the closing minutes, with Jaden Akins hitting a crucial 27-foot 3-pointer with 47 seconds remaining to extend the lead to 125-114, effectively extinguishing Grand Rapids’ comeback hopes.

The most important sequence of the game occurred in the third quarter, when Grand Rapids’ Dane Goodwin single-handedly ignited his team’s rally. Goodwin scored 13 consecutive points for the Gold in a blistering three-minute span, hitting a series of mid-range jumpers and three-pointers. His personal outburst transformed a 17-point Motor City lead into a two-possession game, shifting the momentum entirely and setting up a tense, back-and-forth finish that lasted until the final minute.

Goodwin finished as a key performer for Grand Rapids. Motor City’s Drew Peterson provided critical scoring and playmaking, while Bobi Klintman and Chaz Lanier contributed timely baskets throughout the contest for the Cruise.

With the win, Motor City improved its season record to 12-15. Grand Rapids fell to 15-14. The Cruise have now won two of the three meetings between the teams this season.