New Faces Not Enough as Red Claws Fall to Vipers, 101-83
Published on December 31, 2011 under NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
PORTLAND, ME - With a roster full of unfamiliar faces, Maine (4-9) could never pull their game together, falling to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (9-6) 101-83 in front of a packed house at the Portland Exposition Building.
With a mix of players returning from NBA training camps, trades and pick-ups from the Available Player Pool, the Red Claws' roster looked vastly different from their last home game on December 24. The addition of Ricky Davis, Xavier Silas and Jerome Randle greatly upgraded the team's skill level, yet the lack of time to practice as a unit clearly showed with the Red Claws' uneven play. Rio Grande Valley took full advantage, dominating the first and fourth quarters.
For the Red Claws, every player recorded a point with Courtney Pigram leading the team with 17 points and shooting 5-for-8 from 3-point line to pick up the Adidas Player of the Game honors. Paul Harris put up a solid first half, scoring 13 and grabbing 7 rebounds. Anthony Kent posted his second consecutive double-double with 11 points and 11 boards on the day.
Stanley Asumnu led six Vipers players in double figures with 18 points while Greg Smith picked up a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Lee Humphrey scored 16, Kelvin Lewis added 14 and Damian Saunders added 13. Tyren Johnson played a big role for Rio Grande scoring 12, gathering 7 rebounds and handing out 7 assists as the Vipers spread the scoring around. The Vipers defense held the Red Claws to just 35.4% shooting, blocked the ball 13 times and had 9 steals.
The two teams will meet again tomorrow to ring in 2012 with a New Year's Day game at 5 PM. Great seats remain for the game and may be purchased online at www.maineredclaws.com or in person at the Portland Expo Box Office beginning three hours before the game.
NBA G League Stories from December 31, 2011
- Goods Hits Big Jumper Late In The Game - Dakota Wizards
- Canton Has Streak Snapped by BayHawks - Cleveland Charge
- New Faces Not Enough as Red Claws Fall to Vipers, 101-83 - Maine Celtics
- Mad Ants Acquire Brown - Indiana Mad Ants
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