Toros Stun Vipers in Second Half
March 18, 2011 - NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release
HIDALGO, TEXAS - The Austin Toros outscored the defending NBA Development League champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers 61-to-38 in the second half as the Vipers blew a 15-point lead and lost 107-95 on Friday at State Farm Arena in front of a crowd of 4,989.
The Toros (19-23) clinch the season series victory over the Vipers 5-to-3 with one game remaining.
The Vipers (29-14) led 55-40 with 1:50 remaining in the second quarter, but the Toros closed the second quarter on a 6-2 run, scored the first seven points of the third quarter and 13 of the first 15 to pull tie the game at 59-59 after a three-pointer by Leo Lyons at the 8:24 mark. The lead fluctuated back and forth throughout the rest of the quarter, but the Toros took a 79-71 lead at the buzzer when Squeaky Johnson hit a deep three from the top of the key. In total, the Vipers were outscored 33-14 in the third quarter.
"One of the keys to the game when we play Austin is you can't beat yourself. We lost this game in the first two minutes of the third quarter," Vipers head coach Chris Finch said.
Lyons scored a game-high 31 points with seven rebounds while Johnson finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals.
The Vipers jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the opening 1:26 on a slam dunk by Patrick Sullivan, a three-pointer by Mouhammad Faye and a jumper by Richard Roby. Lance Thomas scored the next five points for the Toros to tie the game at 7-7, but Roby hit a lay-up at the 8:44 mark to give the Vipers the lead at 9-7.
Roby scored a team-high 19 points with 11 rebounds for his second double-double. Sullivan scored 11 points with seven rebounds and three blocks while Arinze Onuaku recorded his first double-double with 11 pooints and 10 rebounds (six offensive).
The Vipers and Toros complete the regular season series on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. The Vipers will wear pink uniforms, presented by Star Staffing, which will be auctioned off after the game in support of the Mary Kay Foundation's fight against Breast Cancer and Violence Against Women. The ZOOperstars will perform at halftime. Houston Rockets Hall of Fame mascot Clutch the Bear will also perform. Fans can take advantage of the State Farm Family 4 Pack, which is four tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas for just $44. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
Additionally, the Vipers are hosting a walkathon on Saturday at 8:00 a.m. at State Farm Arena in conjunction with the Mary Kay Foundation, Star Staffing, Lone Star National Bank, Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, L&F Distributors, RGV Careers, Amado Home Health and Lone Star Litho. There will be a car show and free pre-game tailgate party, courtesy of Pepper's at Uptown and Budweiser, in the State Farm Arena parking lot starting at 4:00 p.m.
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