Toros edge Vipers, 92-85
February 8, 2009 - NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release
Despite rallying from 20 points down to tie the game in the fourth quarter, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers could not regain the lead as they fell to the Austin Toros 92-85 Sunday evening at Dodge Arena. The loss for RGV was the fourth straight at home and third straight overall.
Sunday's game did not bode well for team shooting percentages especially early. The Vipers and Toros each tallied only 17 points in the first quarter with RGV shooting 27% and the Toros 30%. It was the lowest first quarter scoring output of the season for RGV and the second lowest output by a Vipers opponent for the first frame. For the game the Toros shot 45.3%, while the Vipers shot a disappointing 32.3% from the field.
Austin, despite being shorthanded with eight available players the Toros had a stellar second quarter offensive output to take a 54-38 lead into the intermission. Austin outscored RGV 37-21 in the second frame led by Pops Mensah-Bonsu's 16 first half points.
The Vipers rallied back in the third quarter to cut down a 20 point deficit down to five at the end of three periods. Behind the entire second unit, Rio Grande Valley hustled back with a 16-0 run late in third to pull within three. The Vipers tied the game at 78 with 3:56 remaining in the game on two Trent Strickland free-throws, but would never regain the lead.
Eric Dawson paced the scoring output for the Toros as he racked up just his second double-double of the season with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Mensa-Bonsu was the star however scoring 22 points, hauling in a game-high 18 rebounds, while blocking six Viper shots. Marcus Williams tallied his eighth double-double of the season for Austin and his second in as many games with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Stanley Asumnu and Alpha Bangura each scored 18 points to lead the way for Rio Grande Valley in the loss. Asumnu also hauled in six boards, four steals and three assists. Ernest Scott and Trent Strickland each scored 11 to round out the double-digit scorers for Rio Grande Valley.
The Vipers have 10 days off before they face the Anaheim Arensal on February 18th at the Anaheim Convention Center to begin a stretch of 11 out 13 games away from Dodge Arena. The Toros next game is also against Anaheim two days earlier on February 16th at the Anaheim Convention Center.
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