Thunderbirds Sting Vipers 106 - 98
Published on February 22, 2008 under NBA G League (G League)
New Mexico Thunderbirds News Release
Albuquerque, N.M., February 22, 2008 - The Albuquerque Thunderbirds defeated the Rio Grande Valley Vipers 106 - 98 Friday night. Kevin Pittsnogle led all scorers with 25 points for the Thunderbirds to go along with 8 rebounds.
Trent Strickland led four Vipers with 21 points in the loss, Desmon Farmer pitched in 18 points and Craig Winder added an additional 13 points off the bench.
Pittsnogle led five Thunderbirds in double digits, including Jamaal Thomas's 24 points. Darvin Ham and Josh Gross each added 14 points for Albuquerque and Cory Underwood threw in 10 points off the bench. Abdul Mills had a strong start at point guard for the Thunderbirds registering a game high 100 assists.
The win also ushered in the debut of the two newest Thunderbirds; Daryl Dorsey who registered 2 points, 2 assists and 3 points and Dwight Brewington who had 1 point and 2 assists in his first Thunderbirds game.
The Thunderbirds opened the game on a 7 - 0 run and closed the first quarter with a 9 - 0 run, helping them to a 29 - 21 lead after the first quarter. Desmon Farmer led all scorers in the quarter with 12 points for the Vipers.
Rio Grande Valley kept the game close in the second quarter shooting over 50% from the floor. Albuquerque maintained their eight point lead into the half 55 - 47.
The story of the quarter was the ejection of Farmer, the Vipers leading scorer, with just under one minute remaining in the half. Farmer was ejected for a double-flagrant technical foul when he knocked Albuquerque's Thomas to the ground while Thomas attempted a dunk.
Quannas White had 7 points for the Vipers in the third quarter; Pittsnogle matched that with 7 points of his own for the Thunderbirds. After three quarter Albuquerque maintained the lead, 82 - 72.
Both teams will be back in action against one another Saturday, February 23rd, game time is set for 7:00 pm from Tingley Coliseum. Saturday will be press-pass night, show your press-pass at the door and get a buy one-get-one free ticket special. It will also be Kevin Pittsnogle autograph card night; the first 1,000 fans will receive a free autograph card, compliments of the Albuquerque Journal.
Thunderbirds 2007-08 single game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at abqtbirds.com, any Ticketmaster location or at the Thunderbirds front office at 111 Lomas Blvd. NE, Suite 240, Albuquerque, NM 87102. For premium or group seating call the Thunderbirds office at (505) 265-DUNK.
The Thunderbirds stay focused on the community by participating in community events such as the Read to Achieve Program as well as D-League Cares. In the past two seasons the Thunderbirds have worked over 3,000 hours in the community, staying dedicated to Albuquerque and New Mexico.
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