
Vipers Escape with Ninth-Straight Win
January 21, 2011 - NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release
BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA - The defending NBA Development League champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers extended their franchise-record winning streak to nine in a row by coming back from down 15 in the first half and getting a lay-up from Jerel McNeal with 7.6 seconds remaining to defeat the Dakota Wizards 102-100 on Friday at the Bismarck Civic Center.
The game turned into a back-and-forth affair after the Vipers took a 69-67 lead midway through the third quarter. The Vipers (16-7) took a 100-98 lead after Stanley Asumnu connected on a lay-up with 4:14 remaining. Mike Anderson hit one of his two free throw attempts to bring the Wizards within one point with 2:57 remaining. Darren Cooper hit one of his two free throw attempts with 21.3 seconds left to tie the game. After McNeal banked in his shot to give the Vipers the lead, the Wizards called timeout to advance the ball. Anthony Goods missed a three-pointer and Mike Hall missed a put-back attempt to end the game.
McNeal finished with 17 points. The Vipers were led in scoring by Jeff Adrien who finished 23 points and 14 rebounds for his 10th double-double in 14 games.
The Vipers jumped out to a 10-6 lead in the opening minutes after a pair of baskets by McNeal, but Hall scored seven early points as the Wizards (7-19) scored the next 11 points as part of an 18-4 run to take a 24-14 lead. Mustafa Shakur hit a three-pointer with 32.2 seconds remaining in the 1st quarter, but Maurice Baker scored seven-straight points and Cooper hit a jumper to give the Wizards their largest lead of the night at 39-24 in the opening minute of the second quarter.
Hall hit a lay-up to give the Wizards a 67-61 lead with 8:09 remaining in the third, but the Vipers went on an 8-0 run, capped by a pair of free throws from McNeal to take the lead back at 69-67 with 5:52 remaining.
The Wizards were led in scoring by Hall, who scored 27 points with 13 rebounds, and Goods, who also scored 27 points.
The Vipers and Wizards return to action on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. when they face-off for the final time this season at the Bismarck Civic Center.
NBA G League Stories from January 21, 2011
- Skyforce Wins Thriller To Snap 13-Game Skid - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Flash Get Back on Track with Win Over Stampede - Utah Flash
- Vipers Rally to Win Ninth Straight - Dakota Wizards
- Utah Slides by Stampede - Idaho Stampede
- BayHawks Burn Mad Ants, 109-97 - Erie BayHawks
- Armor Hold off Jam in Overtime Thriller - Bakersfield Jam
- Legends Dominate in Front of Record Crowd - Texas Legends
- Vipers Escape with Ninth-Straight Win - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
- T-Birds Rally Comes up Just Short - New Mexico Thunderbirds
- Armor Top Jam in Overtime - Springfield Armor
- Skyforce Players to Appear at Pizza Ranch - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Bighorns, Eyezone to Host Meet-And-Greet with Nick Fazekas - Reno Bighorns
- Wizards Trade Walter Sharpe - Dakota Wizards
- Thunderbirds Trade for Sharpe - New Mexico Thunderbirds
- Armor Reclaim Jamar Brown - Springfield Armor
- NBA D-League Daily Developments - G League
- Special Performance by Harlem Globetrotter Next Monday - Texas Legends
- 'Ben & Skin' to Broadcast Next Wednesday Night - Texas Legends
- 'Read to Achieve' Event Postponed - Springfield Armor
- Stampede Stroll by Toros - Idaho Stampede
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