Vipers Fall In Regular Season Finale
April 3, 2010 - NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release
HIDALGO, TEXAS - Memphis Grizzlies-assignee Lester Hudson hit a three-pointer with 9.3 seconds remaining to propel the Dakota Wizards past the Western Conference Champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers 110-105 tonight at State Farm Arena in front of a sell-out crowd of 5,565.
After Hudson's shot Will Conroy committed an offensive foul and Marcus Dove hit the first of two free throws to give the Wizards a 108-105 lead with 7.3 seconds left. Conroy missed a three-pointer to tie it near the end of regulation before Hudson hit two free throws with 0.3 seconds left to ice the game.
Hudson finished with a game-high 27 points to go with nine rebounds and six assists while Dove recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Down 7-4 after three minutes, Stanley Asumnu hit three baskets as part of an 8-0 run that gave the Vipers (34-16) a 12-7 lead at the 7:09 mark of the first quarter.
David Bell hit a half-court buzzer beater to bring the Wizards (29-21) within 28-26 at the end of the first quarter, starting a 17-0 run. The Wizards went on to build a 47-38 lead in the middle of the quarter before the Vipers went on an 8-0 run to get back within one. The Wizards closed the half by outscoring the Vipers 20-11 to take a 67-57 lead.
Antonio Anderson punctuated a 13-5 run to open the third quarter with an alley-oop dunk as the Vipers got within 72-70 with 6:38 left in the quarter. After trading baskets for a few minutes, Craig Winder hit two free throws to tie the game at 84-84 with 1:04 left in the quarter.
Julian Sensley hit a pair of free throw to give the Vipers their first lead of the second half at 89-88 with 11:12 remaining. After the Wizards took the lead back, Sensley hit a three-pointer less than a minute later to give the Vipers a 92-91 lead.
Anderson hit a pair of free throws to give the Vipers a 101-99 lead with 2:14 left, but after Conroy hit a free throw, the Wizards went on a 5-0 run to take a 104-102 lead. Anderson responded with a slam dunk, on which he got fouled and hit the free throw to give the Vipers the lead back with 25.5 seconds left.
Anderson finished with a team-high 21 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Ernest Scott recorded his first double-double of the season with 15 points and a season-high 10 rebounds.
The Vipers will learn the date, time and opponent of their first playoff game tomorrow. The Vipers will host games two and three (if necessary) of the first round at State Farm Arena on Monday, April 12 and Tuesday, April 13. Both games will start at 7:30 p.m.
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NBA G League Stories from April 3, 2010
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