Vipers Lose Heartbreaker In Bakersfield 101-99
January 27, 2008 - NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release
Trent Strickland missed two potentially game tying free throws with .2 seconds remaining in regulation as the Rio Grande Valley Vipers fell to the Bakersfield Jam 101-99 Sunday night at Rabobank Arena. The Vipers losing streak has reached six games including 10 straight setbacks outside Dodge Arena. The win for Bakersfield was just their second in their last 10 games.
The Vipers had the lead for the majority of the game and started the game on a 22-6 run to reach their largest lead of the game at 16. Desmon Farmer had 12 first quarter points as the Vipers led by nine at the first quarter break 25-16. The Vipers increased their lead to 11 points at halftime as they narrowly outscored the Jam 24-22 in the second.
The Jam would take their first lead of the game at the 25.5-second mark of the third quarter on an Andre Barrett free throw. The Vipers regained the lead on a Jesse Smith lay-up on their next possession to take a 70-69 lead into the fourth quarter. The Vipers led by 92-82 with 4:21 remaining in regulation after a Quannas White jumper. The Jam would proceed on a 17-5 run, capped off by two Sccoter McFadgon free throws to take a 99-97 lead with 18.2 seconds remaining. The Vipers tied it on their next possession on a Jesse Smith lay-up to make the score 99-99 with a chance to take lead as Jam forward Michael Cuffee fouled Smith on his way up. A missed Smith free throw and a foul by Kris Collins sent Scooter McFadgon to the foul line to shoot the clinching free throws with 3.2 seconds remaining.
Farmer, who did not convert a field goal in Friday's loss to Albuquerque, led all scorers with 28 points but fouled out with 18.2 seconds remaining. Four additional Vipers tallied double-figures in the loss including Jesse Smith's double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds. Quannas White scored 10 for the second straight night while dishing out 10 assists. James Peters scored 26 points to lead the way for the Jam who had six players reach double-figures. Nick Lewis scored 21 and was a rebound shy of a double-double, and point guard Andre Barrett was a rebound and an assist shy of a triple-double after finishing with 18 points.
The Vipers will return home and practice at the Summit Sports Club in Pharr before playing their final road game of their current six straight away from Dodge Arena at Tulsa on Friday. Game time at Expo Square Pavilion is 7:00 pm
The Rio Grande Valley Vipers are an expansion team in the NBA Development League (NBA D-League). The D-League is the official minor league of the National Basketball Association. Now in its seventh season, the D-league will have 14 teams that will play a 50 game schedule. The teams include Albuquerque Thunderbirds (NM), Anaheim Arsenal (CA), Austin Toros (TX), Bakersfield Jam (CA), Colorado 14ers (Broomfield), Dakota Wizards (Bismarck, ND), Fort Wayne Mad Ants (IN), Idaho Stampede (Boise), Iowa Energy (Des Moines), Los Angeles D-Fenders (CA), Sioux Falls Skyforce (SD) and Tulsa 66ers (OK) and Utah Flash (Orem). The Vipers NBA affiliates are the Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers and the New Orleans Hornets.
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