SOUTHAVEN, Miss. (Interstat) — Ricky Council IV scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Malaki Branham added 30 points as the Osceola Magic held off the Memphis Hustle 101-98 in a G League game at DeSoto Civic Center before an announced crowd of 771. The Magic improved to 2-0. The Hustle fell to 0-1.

Osceola scored 31 points in the first quarter, 17 in the second, 23 in the third and 30 in the fourth. Memphis scored 16 in the first, 31 in the second, 24 in the third and 27 in the fourth. The Magic led 48-47 at halftime, and the teams were tied at 71 entering the fourth.

Council played 36 minutes and also had two assists. Branham played 34 minutes and had four rebounds and three assists. JD Davison added 16 points, six assists, two rebounds and two blocks in 37 minutes, while Mike Sharavjamts scored 12 points in 22 minutes.

Memphis got 20 points and three assists from Eric Dixon in 26 minutes. Karim Lopez had 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 31 minutes. Zach Cleveland posted 13 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes, and Brendan Hausen scored 15 points in 15 minutes. Jahmai Mashack added 10 points and eight rebounds, and Khamari McGriff scored nine points with five rebounds.

Osceola started quickly in the first quarter. Branham made a running layup with 11:26 remaining, Davison hit a 25-foot running jump shot at the 10:27 mark and Council made a 23-foot running jump shot with 10:04 left. Au’Diese Toney also made an 11-foot floating jump shot and a 2-foot layup in the first quarter. Memphis answered later in the period as Karim Lopez made a tip shot, Khamari McGriff converted a layup and Brendan Hausen made a 25-foot 3-pointer. Eric Dixon also made two 3-pointers in the first quarter, helping Memphis stay close.

In the second quarter, Council made a 24-foot 3-pointer and a 26-foot 3-pointer, and Branham made a driving layup and a 25-foot 3-pointer. Davison added a driving floating jump shot, and Mike Sharavjamts made a 26-foot 3-pointer. Memphis stayed within reach behind Zach Cleveland’s driving layup, Jordan Bowden’s 24-foot 3-pointer and Eric Dixon’s two-point shot. Ace Baldwin made a 25-foot 3-pointer and Council finished the half with a running dunk to give Osceola a 48-47 lead at the break.

The third quarter saw Memphis erase the halftime deficit. Eric Dixon made a 22-foot 3-pointer, Khamari McGriff made a two-point shot and Brendan Hausen made a 23-foot running jump shot. Hausen also made a free throw, and Karim Lopez made a 24-foot 3-pointer. Yuri Collins made a running layup, and Jahmai Mashack made free throws. Osceola countered with a 7-foot driving floating jump shot from Kasean Pryor, a 5-foot driving dunk from Sharavjamts and free throws from Council, Davison and Branham. The teams entered the fourth tied at 71.

The fourth quarter stayed tight. Branham made a 24-foot 3-pointer with 2:46 remaining off an Ace Baldwin assist. After Zach Cleveland made a driving layup with 2:17 left, Davison answered with a 24-foot step-back 3-pointer with 1:53 remaining. Cleveland kept Memphis close with a 22-foot running jump shot at the 1:05 mark and a 3-foot two-point shot with 36 seconds left. Council made the second of two free throws with 20 seconds remaining to help secure the win.

Osceola next hosts Mexico City, while Memphis next hosts Oklahoma City. The Magic will seek to remain unbeaten, while the Hustle will look for their first win.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Osceola 122, Memphis 116. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Osceola with a 66.5 percent probability to win.