66ers Sweep Weekend Series With Vipers
December 20, 2009 - NBA G League (G League)
Tulsa 66ers News Release
Tulsa, Okla., December 19, 2009 - The Tulsa 66ers rallied to start the fourth quarter with a 20-2 run, and held on in overtime to defeat the Rio Grande Valley Vipers for the second consecutive night 94-89 Saturday at the Tulsa Convention Center.
"I really give credit to our guys. They stayed with it," 66ers Head Coach Nate Tibbetts said. "We bounced back and fought hard on the defensive end, both in the fourth quarter and in overtime."
Tulsa held the Vipers to 5-of-27 shooting in the fourth quarter and overtime combined, while limiting them to nearly 16 points below their season average, even with the overtime period.
Both teams came out in the first quarter somewhat sloppy, each committing six turnovers in the first quarter. A Zabian Dowdell three-pointer for Tulsa tied the game at 16 with a 1:15 remaining in the period, then the 66ers went on a 9-0 run between the end of the first and start of the second quarters to give them a 25-16 lead with 9:45 left in the half. The Vipers came right back with a 10-1 run of their own to tie the game back up at 26, before Steven Hill tipped in a shot that gave the 66ers a 38-37 advantage at halftime.
Led by Michael Harris' 14 points, the Vipers shot 64 percent in the third quarter and pushed their lead to 61-72 at the break. Newcomer Deron Washington sparked the 20-2 run to start the fourth quarter, with five points and an assists, during the eight minute stretch that extended the 66ers lead to 81-74 with four minutes remaining in the game. But Tulsa managed only a layup by Zabian Dowdell in the final minutes, giving the Vipers the opportunity to tie the game at the end of regulation at 83 apiece.
Washington scored six points in overtime to help secure the win for Tulsa.
Led by Larry Owens, with 19 points and four rebounds, the 66ers finished with six players scoring in double-figures. Mustafa Shakur had 13 points, six assists and four steals, while Moses Ehambe added 12 points and tied a career-high with seven rebounds. Cecil Brown, Dowdell, and Washington each scored 11 points, and DeVon Hardin grabbed 10 boards.
The Vipers finished with four players scoring in double-figures, including two with double-doubles. Harris finished with a career-high 35 points and 12 rebounds, while Antonio Anderson added 17 points. Joey Dorsey put in 10 points and snagged 18 rebounds before fouling out with 4:58 remaining in the fourth quarter, and Garrett Temple added 16 points.
Tulsa (6-5) travels to face the Reno Bighorns in a back-to-back set on Dec. 26 and 27, before returning home to face the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Jan. 2 and 3.
Rio Grande Valley (6-3) will return home to face the Bighorns on Dec. 21, and the Austin Toros on Dec. 26 and 30.
NBA G League Stories from December 20, 2009
- Wizards Overcome 22 Point Deficit To Defeat Utah - Dakota Wizards
- NBA D-League Daily Developments - G League
- 66ers Sweep Weekend Series With Vipers - Tulsa 66ers
- After Rough Road Trip, Wizards Return Home To Defeat Sioux Falls - Dakota Wizards
- Jam Finally Put One In Win Column - Bakersfield Jam
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