Vipers Fall in Game 1 of Quarterfinals
Published on April 8, 2011 under NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release
BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA - The defending NBA Development League champion and third-seeded Rio Grande Valley Vipers led by as many as 16 points in the second quarter but the sixth-seeded Bakersfield Jam rallied late to win 110-105 in Game 1 of the Quarterfinals on Friday at the Jam Events Center.
The Vipers (0-1) trail the best-of-three series 1-0 and can move onto the semifinals and must win Game 2 on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. at State Farm Arena to force a decisive Game 3. Houston Rockets Hall of Fame mascot Clutch the Bear and the Rockets Power Dancers will perform. There will be a free pre-game tailgate party in the parking lot beginning at 5:00 p.m., courtesy of Pepper's at Uptown and Budweiser. Tickets start at $7 and can be purchased by calling the Vipers at 972-1144 or online through Ticketmaster via rgvipers.com.
After Stephen Dennis scored the first four points of the game for the Jam (1-0), the Vipers scored the next nine points, the last four of which came on a basket and two free throws by Mouhammad Faye. The Jam climbed within 23-21 at the 2:22 mark after Los Angeles Lakers-assignee Derrick Carracter fed Brandon Wallace for an alley-oop, but the Vipers went on a 6-2 run to close the first quarter to take a 29-23 lead.
The Vipers extended the run into a 9-3 run at the start of the second quarter, going up 32-24 after Richard Roby's driving lay-up at the 9:59 mark. The Jam climbed within 40-38 two and a half minutes later, but Arinze Onuaku hit a lay-up, Jerel McNeal nailed a three-pointer and Onuaku dunked the ball to put the Vipers up 47-38 at the 5:20 mark. The Vipers extended it into a 20-6 run when Roby hit a lay-up at the 2:02 mark to give the Vipers a 60-44 lead.
The Jam took the lead back at 94-92 when Jeremy Wise hit a three-pointer with 5:33 remaining. Roby hit a jumper to tie the game, but Trey Johnson responded with a jumper to give the Jam the lead back. Matt Janning and Roby combined to hit four consecutive free throws as the Vipers took a 98-86 lead with 3:54 remaining, but Johnson and Wise each hit a free throw and Derrick Byars hit a jumper to give the Jam a two-point edge.
Roby nailed a three-pointer to tie the game at 102-102, but Johnson hit a jumper with 1:38 remaining to give the Jam the lead back. Johnson hit another jumpers with 19.2 seconds left and Wise hit a pair of free throws with 10.4 seconds left to give the Jam a 108-102 lead. Connor Atchley drained a three-pointer with 8.6 seconds left to bring the Vipers within three, but Wise hit a pair of free throws with 7.2 seconds left to put the game away.
The Vipers were led in scoring by McNeal, who scored 22 points with six assists while Jon Scheyer scored 20 points with fice rebounds, six assists and two steals.
Johnson scored a game-high 29 points while Wise scored 24, 15 of which came from the foul line.
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