66ers Come Up Short Against The Vipers
December 6, 2009 - NBA G League (G League)
Tulsa 66ers News Release
TULSA, Okla. - In a back and forth battle of Western Conference foes, the Tulsa 66ers fell to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Saturday, 94-89 at the Tulsa Convention Center. Neither team led by more than eight points the entire game, and there were 12 lead changes and 10 times tied in the contest.
Heading into the fourth quarter down 66-67, the 66ers looked to make a run. A Michael Harris three-point play put the Vipers ahead by six 1:15 into the period, when Mustafa Shakur hit a jumper and Yemi Ogunoye nailed two free throws to cut the lead to 70-72. With 3:20 remaining, two untimely turnovers by Tulsa and a three-pointer by Harris put the Vipers ahead 81-89, which was too much for the 66ers to overcome. The Vipers shot 10-for-15 (67 percent) in the final quarter, as the 66ers shot 10-for-23 (43.5 percent).
"We struggled to match their intensity and they hit some big shots down the stretch," 66ers Head Coach Nate Tibbetts said. "This was our sixth game in nine nights, and I am proud of our guys for the effort they brought to tonight's game. You learn a lot about the character of your team during stretches like this."
Oklahoma City Thunder assignee Byron Mullens scored 10 of his team-high 21 points in the final period for Tulsa.
Tulsa finished the first quarter strong, going on an 8-0 run to end the period, after two Vipers turnovers, that put the 66ers ahead 28-20. But Rio Grande Valley started the second quarter with an 11-0 run of their own, to grab a 31-28 lead after a Garrett Temple lay-up. Temple scored 12 of his game-high 23 points prior to halftime, yet the Vipers only managed a 42-41 lead heading into the break.
Led by Mullens, including his nine rebounds, the 66ers finished with four players with double digit scoring. Moses Ehambe finished with 16 points, while Shakur added 15 points, five rebounds and five assists. DeVon Hardin finished with season-highs of 14 points and nine rebounds for Tulsa.
The Vipers finished with four players in double figures, led by Temple. Harris added 22 points, and Ernest Scott contributed 13 points off the bench, while Joey Dorsey had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
The 66ers (2-4) will travel to Springfield, MA for a two-game set with the Armor on Dec. 10 and 12, before a contest at the Maine Red Claws on Dec. 13. They will then return home for a back-to-back tilt against the Vipers on Dec. 18 and 19.
The Vipers (3-1) head to Austin to face the Toros on Dec. 8 before returning home against the Albuquerque Thunderbirds on Dec. 10 and 12.
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