G League Rio Grande Valley Vipers

Vipers Win To Clinch Home Court Advantage In First Round of Playoffs

Published on March 26, 2010 under NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release


HIDALGO, TEXAS - After hitting just 1-of-14 shots from behind the arc in the first half, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers assured themselves of at least a three-seed in the NBA Development League playoffs and home court advantage in the first round by hitting 10-of-13 three-point shots in the second half to secure a 110-95 victory over the Los Angeles D-Fenders tonight at State Farm Arena in front of a crowd of 5,377.

The Vipers (32-13) now have a magic number of two with the idle Austin Toros (28-16) to clinch the Western Conference title and at least the two-seed in the playoffs. If the Vipers win and the Toros lose to the Bakersfield Jam on Saturday, the Vipers will clinch the Western Conference Championship.

Down 21-14 after 9:12, the D-Fenders (16-30) scored the final eight points of the first quarter to take their first lead at 22-21. The D-Fenders out-shot the Vipers 52.6%-to-33.3%, but the Vipers had five more possession by having seven offensive rebounds compared to two by the D-Fenders.

Julian Sensley hit a lay-up early in the second quarter to give the Vipers the lead back at 28-26. Stanley Asumnu followed with a pair of baskets as the Vipers built a 32-28 lead. Horace Wormley capped a 5-0 run with a driving lay-up as the D-Fenders took the lead back at 33-32. The Vipers hit four of their next eight shots to go on an 8-2 run to take a 40-35 lead with 2:52 remaining in the second quarter.

The Vipers hit 4-of-5 three-point shots in the third quarter while Mickell Gladness scored eight of the Vipers' 32 points to build a 78-68 lead.

Overall, Jonathan Wallace hit 4-of-9 three-pointers while finishing with 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Ernest Scott hit 5-of-11 three-pointers while finishing with a game-high 23 points. Will Conroy finished three rebounds shy of a triple-double while scoring 10 points and dishing out 10 assists.

The D-Fenders were led by James Peters, who scored 22 points to go with seven rebounds. Frank Robinson finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

The Vipers look to complete the season-series sweep of the D-Fenders tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at State Farm Arena on Salvation Army Night. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive mini-fans, courtesy of the Salvation Army. The Vipers are hosting the 2010 All-Star High School Basketball Showcase starting at 10:00 a.m. on the Vipers' court. Hoops for the Homeless will begin in the State Farm Arena parking lot at noon and run through 6:00 p.m. Fans will have a chance to take part in free throw shooting and hula hoops contests to benefit the Salvation Army's programs for the homeless. Food will be served, courtesy of Hungry Howie's Pizza and Mimi's Café. Additionally, the Vipers are hosting a pre-game tailgate party starting at 4:00 p.m. in the State Farm Arena parking lot. Fans will be able enjoy free food, courtesy of Pepper's at Uptown and Roosevelt's at 7.

Saturday's game will be carried on VERSUS (channel 314 (SD)/1314 (HD) on Time Warner Cable, channel 151 on Dish Network and channel 603 on DIRECTV), presented by Papa John's Pizza, starting at 10:00 p.m. This is the third of three nationally televised Vipers regular season home games this season, marking the first time a Rio Grande Valley team has ever had nationally televised home games.

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