CLEVELAND (Interstat) — The Cleveland Charge erupted for a franchise-record 49 points in the third quarter to turn a competitive game into a rout, defeating the Santa Cruz Warriors 138-116 in a G League matchup Friday night at Wolstein Center.

The game’s decisive shift came after halftime, with the Charge transforming a 57-56 deficit into a commanding lead. Cleveland’s offensive explosion in the third period, fueled by a barrage of 3-pointers and transition baskets, overwhelmed a Santa Cruz team that had played evenly through the first 24 minutes. The Charge outscored the Warriors by 20 points in the quarter to take a 105-86 lead into the final frame and never looked back.

Santa Cruz, the visiting team, started strong behind the play of center Marques Bolden and forward Jack Clark. The Warriors led 30-25 after the first quarter and maintained a narrow one-point edge at halftime. However, they had no answer for Cleveland’s overwhelming firepower after the break, particularly from guard Jaxson Robinson and the playmaking of Darius Brown. The Charge shot efficiently from the field and capitalized on a series of Santa Cruz turnovers to fuel their game-breaking run.

The victory improved Cleveland’s season record to 28 wins and 15 losses, solidifying their position near the top of the league standings. The loss dropped Santa Cruz to 14-28 on the season. The two teams are scheduled for a quick rematch at the same venue on Saturday night.

Key performances for the Charge included a dynamic all-around effort from Brown at point guard and a prolific scoring display from Robinson. For the Warriors, Bolden provided interior presence and scoring, while Clark and Taevion Kinsey contributed from the perimeter. The game’s flow was ultimately dictated by Cleveland’s historic third-quarter performance, which served as the most important sequence of the contest and decided the outcome long before the final buzzer.