G League Rio Grande Valley Vipers

Energy Explode in Fourth: Beat Vipers for NBA Development League Championship

Published on April 29, 2011 under NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release


DES MOINES, IOWA - The Rio Grande Valley Vipers were outscored 21-5 in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter as the top-seeded Iowa Energy won their first NBA Development League Championship with a 119-111 victory in Game 3 of the best of three Finals Friday at Wells Fargo Arena.

After going down 102-93, Jerel McNeal and Richard Roby hit back-to-back baskets to bring the Vipers (5-3) within five. The Vipers got as close as 105-101 with 4:00 remaining on a McNeal lay-up, but the Energy (6-2) maintained the lead the rest of the way. The Vipers were outscored 38-to-23 in the quarter.

McNeal led the Vipers with 29 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Matt Janning also recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

The game featured seven lead changes in the first quarter, with neither team leading by more than two until the final minutes. The Vipers trailed 26-25 after Curtis Stinson hit a free throw with 3:14 remaining. Terrel Harris scored seven points as the Vipers followed with a 14-2 run to push their lead out to 39-28 with 1:00 remaining. Stefhon Hannah and Moses Ehambe hit back-to-back three-pointers in the final 22 seconds to bring the Energy back within five at 39-34.

Hannah led the Energy with 31 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. Michael Haynes had 21 points, eight rebounds and four steals.

The Vipers pushed their lead back out to 11 at 58-47 on a Janning three-pointer with 3:47 remaining in the second quarter, but Hannah scored six points as the Energy responded with a 15-1 run to take a 62-59 lead.

The Vipers took the lead early in the third on a three-pointer by Jon Scheyer, but Ehambe answered right back. The Vipers scored the next eight points to build a 76-68 lead on a three-pointer by Connor Atchley with 7:07 remaining in the quarter.

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