Vipers Use 23-1 Run to Put Away Thunderbirds
February 4, 2011 - NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release
RIO RANCHO, NEW MEXICO - The defending NBA Development League champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers went on a 23-1 run over the final five minutes of the third quarter to take the lead and defeat the New Mexico Thunderbirds 116-110 on Friday at Santa Ana Star Center.
The Vipers (20-9) led through out the first half, but the Thunderbirds (14-17) opened the third quarter on a 7-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 68-67 after a Nick Raivio three-pointer at the 10:21 mark. The lead started changing hands often after that, with the Vipers tying the game on a three-point play by Jeff Adrien and taking the lead back for good at 83-80 with 3:28 remaining on Patrick Sullivan's first of two three-pointers. Matt Janning converted a three-point play and then hit a three-pointer to spark the Vipers' run. The Vipers ended the third quarter leading 100-81. Janning scored 11 of his career-high 23 points in the third quarter.
Adrien recorded his 15th double-double in 20 games with 17 points and a career-high tying 16 rebounds while Sullivan finished with 14 points.
The Thunderbirds opened the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run, broken when Adrien hit a pair of free throws at the 8:23 mark to make it 102-92. The Thunderbirds scored the next five points before Houston Rockets-assignee Ish Smith hit the Vipers' first basket of the quarter on a spin move that led to a floater at the 6:40 mark. The Vipers were outscored 29-16 in the quarter.
Adrien scored four points as the Vipers jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the opening 3:06, but the Thunderbirds outscored the Vipers 25-20 over the rest of the quarter to pull within 30-27.
The Vipers built their lead up to 11 at 45-34 following a Sullivan three-point play with 8:26 remaining in the second quarter, but the Thunderbirds responded with a 19-9 run to pull within 54-53 after Josh Bostic hit a jumper at the 4:35 mark. The Vipers answered with an 8-2 run, capped by a three-pointer from Connor Atchley.
Bostic finished with a game-high 26 points to go with 10 rebounds while Walter Sharpe scored 20 points with 12 rebounds.
The Vipers and Thunderbirds complete the season series on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at the Santa Ana Star Center.
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