Obviously, the Roanoke Dazzle couldn't wait to start its Christmas break.

Checking out early for the holidays in front of a season-high crowd of 2,278, the Dazzle was a no-show in a nightmarish third quarter and was stuck with an ugly lump of coal in its Christmas stocking in a brutal 98-78 loss to the Florida Flame on Friday night at the Roanoke Civic Center.

"I told them at halftime that we're going on a bit of a break here starting [today], and what you can't do is go until the game is over. And we went at halftime," said Roanoke coach Kent Davison, whose team lost for the sixth time in eight home games to fall to 4-8.

Trailing 37-36 at halftime, Roanoke missed 15 of its first 16 shots to open the second half. Florida took advantage of the host's generous holiday spirt, outscoring the Dazzle 36-16 in the quarter to take a commanding 73-52 lead. From that point, the Flame had little problem coasting to its franchise-record fifth consecutive victory.

"I thought maybe we'd come out and play with a bunch of energy," Davison said. "And we trotted up and down the floor, and they ran. And that's a problem when you can't react.

"Whew! I couldn't believe some of the things I saw in that third quarter."

On the Roanoke end, it was plain ugly. The Dazzle, which entered the game averaging 105.6 points per game, was 5-for-21 from the field in the third quarter. Meanwhile, the smaller visitors shot 13-for-23 in the period, not to mention outhustle the hosts for nearly every available loose ball.

"We've been as good a rebounding team as has been in the league and we let 'em outrebound us by 12," Davison said. "All of a sudden they get 14 second-chance points and we get four.

"That's just hustle. And that's what happens when you don't play with energy and don't play with enthusiasm. They wanted it more than we wanted it."

Florida (8-2), the early leader in the eight-team NBA Development League, was paced by 22 points by Bracey Wright.

The former Indiana University standout, who was assigned to the Flame by the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves, has feasted off Roanoke this season, averaging 26.2 points in five games against the Dazzle. Florida has taken four of the five meetings, including all three here.

Unlike many guys in the D-League, Wright didn't need an atlas to figure out what or where Roanoke was. So far, he likes the place.

"I did know where Roanoke was because J.J. Redick is a friend of mine," said Wright, referring to the Cave Spring grad who now is one of college hoops biggest names at Duke.

"J.J. has put Roanoke on the map. Let me take that back, I didn't know where Roanoke was, but I knew it existed, though. We've played 'em enough already, I know that, too. Tonight was just a lovely night of basketball."

Hiram Fuller had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Flame. Andre Barrett had 15 points, and Theron Smith had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. All three have NBA experience. Counting Timberwolves assignees Dwayne Jones and Wright, it gives the Flame plenty of firepower.

"Oh, they're plenty good," said Davison, whose team's schedule has been front-loaded with the league's best teams thus far. "If you're going to compete with a team with all those former and current NBA players you can't take time off, and we took time off tonight."

Peter Ramos' 14 points led Roanoke, which had scored 91 or more points in its first 11 games. Guard Anthony Grundy and forward Isiah Victor, who entered the game ranked first and fourth in the league in scoring, finished with a combined 10 points on 4-of-20 shooting.

The Roanoke players will leave town today and then report back Tuesday in time for a workout before Wednesday's home game with Florida. Davison has his fingers crossed they'll come back ready to work.

"I think everyone of 'em is going somewhere. ... I don't know if it's home or whatever it is," Davison said. "Then we're going back to the grind again. Hopefully, they'll all come and want to turn this thing around.

FLORIDA (7-2)

Jones 1-4 3-6 5, Smith 6-10 3-6 15, Fuller 8-17 4-5 19, Barrett 7-15 0-0 16, Wright 8-21 4-4 22, Dartez 2-7 1-1 5, Nichols 2-7 2-2 7, Rowland 0-2 0-0 0, Leach 2-2 2-4 6, Shields 0-3 0-0 0, Moore 1-1 1-2 3. Totals 37-89 19-30 98.

ROANOKE (4-8)

Victor 2-6 0-0 4, Glyniadakis 5-9 0-0 10, Ramos 6-12 2-4 14, Bynum 3-8 5-8 12, Grundy 2-14 2-3 6, Blatche 5-9 1-2 12, Doliboa 2-4 0-0 4, Moore 1-1 1-2 3, Owens 1-6 1-2 3, Daniels 2-6 0-0 4, Clark 1-1 0-0 2, Sally 1-1 2-4 4. Totals 31-77 14-25 78.

Florida 17 20 36 25 --98

Roanoke 18 18 16 26 --78

3-Point goals--Florida 5-10 (Barrett 2-2, Wright 2-7, Moore 1-1), Roanoke 2-12 (Bynum 1-3, Grundy 0-4, Blatch 1-2, Daniels 0-3). Rebounds--Florida 55 (Fuller 11), Roanoke 43 (Victor 9). Assists--Florida 15 (Barrett 5), Roanoke 11 (Bynum 3). Total fouls--Florida 22, Roanoke 25. A--2,278.