Vipers Earn Series Split with Bighorns
December 11, 2010 - NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release
RENO, NEVADA - The defending NBA Development League champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers split the weekend series with the Reno Bighorns after a 126-122 victory on Saturday at the Reno Events Center.
After the Vipers (5-4) took a 9-8 lead when Antonio Anderson hit a free throw, the Bighorns (7-2) went on a 7-0 over the power of a lay-up and a three-pointer by D.J. Strawberry to take a 15-9 lead at the 8:10 mark.
The Bighorns led 18-12 with 5:34 remaining in the first quarter, but while the Vipers hit 14-of-19 shots, the Bighorns hit 6-of-18 as the Vipers outscored the Bighorns 40-22 until the 6:56 mark of the second quarter to take a 52-40 lead.
The Bighorns got within 114-111 late in the fourth quarter, but Jerel McNeal hit 7-of-8 free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
McNeal finished with a game-high, career-high and Vipers season-high 40 points with five rebounds, two assists and four steals. McNeal hit 9-of-15 shots, including 5-of-7 from behind the arc. He also 17-of-18 free throw attempts.
Houston Rockets-assignee Patrick Patterson recorded his fourth-straight double-double and fifth overall with 23 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots. Mustafa Shakur scored 20 points with seven rebounds, eight assists and three steals.
Patrick Ewing Jr. led the Bighorns with 24 points, eight rebounds and five blocks, Aaron Miles had 23 points and 10 assists while Sacramento Kings-assignee Hassan Whiteside finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and eight blocks.
The Vipers return to action on Friday at 7:00 p.m. against the Bakersfield Jam on Hawaiian Night at State Farm Arena. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive beach towels, courtesy of Lone Star National Bank. The Greeters of Honolulu will perform at halftime. Pepper's at Uptown is hosting a free pre-game tailgate party in the parking lot. Fans are encouraged to bring new toys to donate to the Salvation Army toy drive.
The Rio Grande Valley Vipers are the NBA Development League affiliate of the NBA Houston Rockets. The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA's official minor league and features 16 teams with direct affiliations to NBA teams. 63 former NBA Development League players were on 2009-10 NBA start-of-season rosters, amounting to almost 15 percent of NBA players, and the league continues to develop coaches, referees, and front office staff for the NBA and its teams. In fostering the league's connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA Development League Cares programs. The NBA Development League also advances the game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA. Throughout the season fans can watch all NBA Development League games on NBA Futurecast, the free live Web-streaming initiative found at nba.com/futurecast.
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