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G League Rio Grande Valley Vipers

Vipers Give Up Lead; Lose 95-93 To T-Birds

January 23, 2008 - NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release


For the third consecutive game the Rio Grande Valley Vipers could not hold on to a half time lead as they dropped their fourth straight game to the Albuquerque Thunderbirds 95-93 Wednesday morning at Tingley Coliseum. The Vipers have not won a true road game since December 29th and are now a season low five games below .500.

The game was tied at 23 after a back and forth first quarter of play that saw eight ties and seven lead changes. The Vipers took control of the game in the second. The Vipers capped off a 9-0 run at the 1:11 mark after two made Desmon Farmer free throws to lead by 12. The Vipers took an 11-point lead into the break. The Vipers led by as many as 15 and led by double figures for a majority of the third quarter. However am 11-2 run by the Thunderbirds to close out the period pulled Albuquerque to within four entering the fourth quarter.

Neither team would have a lead of more than four in the final period. Kris Collins, who played his collegiate ball in Albuquerque at New Mexico and was cut from Thunderbirds training camp earlier this season, made two free throws at the 2:18 mark and gave the Vipers a 91-85 lead. The Thunderbirds finished the game on a 10-2 run to grab the come from behind victory. The fourth quarter alone saw four ties and five lead changes en route to the Thunderbirds win, their second over Rio Grande Valley this season. The Vipers were without forward Stanley Asumnu who was out with flu like symptoms forcing them to dress only seven players.

"Words cannot express the way I am feeling right now after that loss," Vipers Head Coach Bob Hoffman said. "We deserved to win that game as hard as we played. We just have to find a way to get the one on Friday night."

The Vipers were lead by Farmer's game high 30 points. Quin Humphrey had the game's only double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Five Viper players scored in double figures including Collins' 14 points, his third straight game in double figures.

The Thunderbirds also were shorthanded as Forwards Kevin Pittsnogle and Abdul Mills were both out with injuries. Five Albuquerque players scored in double digits including Ali Berdiel's team-high 26 points. Elijah Ingram added 18 for the Thunderbirds as they broke a four game losing streak with the win. Thunderbirds Head Coach Jeff Ruland was ejected in the third quarter for over-excessive complaining about the officials.

The Vipers will continue their current six game road swing in Albuquerque on Friday as they will face the Thunderbirds for the third time this season. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00pm CST at Tingley Coliseum.

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