Vipers Fall Short Against 66ers 101-83
Published on March 31, 2012 under NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release
HIDALGO, Texas - The Rio Grande Valley Vipers fell 101-83 to the Tulsa 66ers tonight at State Farm Arena.
Malcolm Thomas led the Vipers with 16 points and 9 rebounds. Jermaine Taylor tallied 14 points and 6 rebounds, and Will Conroy contributed 12 points, 6 assists.
The 66ers were led by Jerome Dyson with 20 points. Larry Owens added 19 points, and Robert Vaden added 17 points for Tulsa.
Thomas notched the first pair of baskets for the Vipers, but Tulsa took control of the first quarter early, and held a 17-4 advantage with 7:15 on the clock. Conroy sunk a pair of free throws to help the Vipers close their deficit, and Scott VanderMeer tallied a layup to bring Rio Grande Valley back within 8 points, 22-14.
Vance Cooksey sank 3 free throws and a jump shot to help the Vipers get within 4 points of the 66ers, 26-22 early in the second quarter. Dwight Buycks responded with a jump shot for Tulsa, and Nkem Ojougboh and Dyson added baskets to put the 66ers ahead 34-24. A shot from behind the arc by Kelvin Lewis sent the Vipers on a run that helped Rio Grande Valley inch closer. Conroy and Lee Humphrey each contributed 3-point shots, and a jump shot from Tyren Johnson put the Vipers within 36-35. At the 4:32 mark, Conroy tallied a layup that gave Rio Grande Valley the 37-36 lead. Tulsa fought back, but the Vipers held the 47-44 lead at the half.
Early in the third quarter, Ryan Reid helped Tulsa reclaim the lead with back-to-back shots, and Dyson followed up with two shots from the line to help Tulsa move ahead 50-47. Thomas put the Vipers back within 1 point, 50-49 with a jump shot, but the 66ers quickly built their lead to 70-49. Stanley Asumnu and Thomas connected with a layup each to help the Vipers offense cut into their deficit 70-53. However, consecutive 3-point shots from Buycks and Brady Morningstar sent Tulsa into the fourth quarter with the 84-64 lead.
Tulsa remained in control of the game throughout the fourth quarter. Conroy and Marshall Brown contributed 3-point shots, and Brown was able to connect on three on field goals, but the Vipers could close the gap on their deficit. The 66ers topped the Vipers 101-83.
Next weekend, the Vipers will host the Reno Bighorns April 6 and 7 at State Farm Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. both nights. The two contests are also the last two games of the regular season for the Vipers.
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