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G League Rio Grande Valley Vipers

Hairston Leads Toros To Come Back Win Over Vipers

April 11, 2009 - NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release


Malik Hairston scored 41 points in his return to Austin as helped the Toros rally from a 13 point 4th quarter deficit in 110-106 win over the Rio Grande Valley Vipers Friday night at the Austin Convention Center. The Toros did not lead until the fourth quarter and never relinquished it. The Vipers closed out their road schedule with a 9-16 record away from Dodge Arena. The Toros win helps them keep pace with the Utah Flash for the fourth seed in the D-League playoffs.

The Vipers held a lead for the majority of the first three quarters with only five ties. The Vipers started the game strong led by former UT Longhorn Craig Winder. Winder scored 12 points in the opening 12 minutes and helped the Vipers roll out to a 27-21 lead after the first. The Toros rallied back thanks to Hairston's 16 point second quarter effort as the Toros bested the Vipers in the second by six to tie the score at 51 at halftime.

The Vipers would grab the lead back in the third quarter as Julian Sesnley's 10 points in the frame helped build the lead to as many as 11 in the period. The Vipers outscored Austin 28-20 in the third to take an eight point lead into the fourth quarter.

The Vipers built their lead to 13 points on a Winder three-pointer from the right wing with 8:46 remaining in regulation. It was the Vipers largest lead of the game. The Toros then exploded on a 14-0 run capped off by a Dwayne Jones dunk prompting a Vipers time-out. The run gave Austin their first lead of the game at 93-92. The run continued after the timeout to 21-4 giving the Toros a four point edge and they never looked back. Austin outscored the Vipers 39-27 in the fourth to seal the win.

Jones scored 31 points and tied a D-League record with 28 rebounds as the Toros dominated the boards 56-45. Squeaky Johnson dded 11 points, four boards and four assists and Eric Dawson scored 10 with seven board before exiting the game with an ankle injury.

Winder finished two points shy of his career high scoring 27 points with four rebounds in the loss for RGV. Jared Jordan nd Kurt Looby each posted double-doubles. Jordan scored 14 with 10 assists while Looby scored 10 with 15 rebounds. Sensley scored 20 in the game and finished a rebound shy of a double-double, while Cliff Clinkscales added 14 points and five assists off the bench.

The Vipers finish off the regular season on Saturday night as the host the Austin Toros at Dodge Arena. It will be the final game of the regular season for both clubs with Austin still fighting for playoff positioning. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm.

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