Vipers Win One from NBADL Title with 124-107 Win in Tulsa
Published on April 25, 2010 under NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release
TULSA, OK - Will Conroy tallied his first triple-double of the post season as he led the Rio Grande Valley Vipers to a 124-107 win over the Tulsa 66ers in game one of the 2010 NBA Development League Finals Sunday afternoon at the Tulsa Convention Center. The Vipers now lead the best-of-three series 1-0 needing one more victory to earn their first NBA D-League Championship.
Conroy scored 14 points while dishing out 11 assists, and grabbing a career best 16 rebounds to pace the Vipers in a game that needed solid contributions from everyone who touched the floor.
The first quarter began sluggish for both teams with a combined five turnovers and no points in the first 1:53 of the game. The game shifted a back-and-forth affair for the remainder of the period as the 66ers and the Vipers were tied five times and shifted the lead to each other on three occasions. After the first quarter the game was knotted up at 27 points apiece with Larry Owens leading the Tulsa charge with 13 points in the period. Julain Sensley led the first quarter scoring output for RGV with nine points.
In the second quarter Tulsa began to take charge. Tulsa took an eight point advantage by going on a 9-2 run, capped off by a Moses Ehambe lay-up to take a 41-33 lead with 7:33 to play in the half. Tulsa would grab their largest lead at the 5:05 mark on two Latavious Williams free throws, giving the 66ers a 50-40 lead. Rio Grande Valley would steal the lead back at the end of the half by going on a 12-5 run and led at intermission 61-59 thanks to Conroy's beyond half court heave that counted for three. That shot gave the Vipers the lead for good.
"That shot was big simply for the fact that it gave us a two point lead when really didn't play all that well in the first half," Vipers head coach Chris Finch said. "We knew that if we just turned it up a notch and made smarter decisions we would be in good shape."
The Vipers may have stolen the momentum from Tulsa with Conroy's end- of-half dagger as they kept the game out of reach thanks to a remarkable third quarter start. The Vipers began the third quarter on an 8-1 run, with all eight points scored by NBA D-League MVP Mike Harris to take a 69-60 lead. Harris would exit the game, but the Vipers would continue their surge.
Tulsa would close to within five with 5:47 to play in the third, but Craig Winder scored six points in a Vipers 10-2 run to put RGV up 87-74 with 3:04 to play in the period. The Vipers led at the end of the 36 minutes 94-80,a 14-point advantage which was their largest of the game. The Vipers led by as many as 19 in the fourth to earn the victory
Despite playing only 21 minutes due to foul trouble, Harris scored 24 points to lead six Viper players in double figures. Sensley had a strong game, and was one of RGV's lone scoring threats in the first half as he scored 19 of his 21 points in the first 24 minutes. Antonio Anderson scored 17 points and dished out nine assists. Craig Winder scored 18 off the bench, and Ernest scored scored all 12 of his points in the second half on four three pointer to lead a huge contribution from the RGV bench.
"Our bench was huge for us tonight," Coach Finch added. "They gave us some big minutes when we really needed them, Craig (Winder) throughout, Ernest (Scott) in the second half, they were a big part of this win."
Larry Owens scored 21 points leading Tulsa in their game one loss. Williams was solid tallying a double-double for the 66ers with 13 points and 13 boards. Deron Washington scored 13 of his 20 points from the foul line, while starting point guard Wink Adams scored 16 while dishing out seven assists.
The Vipers now have two chances at home to win the 2010 NBA D-League Championship. The series shifts to Texas for game two on Tuesday night. Tip-off at State Farm Arena is scheduled for 7:30 PM. Should a game three be necessary, it will be played Thursday night in Hidaglo also scheduled for a 7:30 tip-off.
NBA G League Stories from April 25, 2010
- Vipers Take Game One Of The Finals 124-107 Over 66ers - Tulsa 66ers
- Rio Grande Valley Vipers Take Game 1 Of NBA D-League Finals - G League
- Vipers Win One from NBADL Title with 124-107 Win in Tulsa - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
- NBA D-League Daily Developments - G League
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