Wizards Cast Spell In The 4th As Vipers Fall 107-84
January 19, 2010 - NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release
BISMARCK, North Dakota - Curtis Withers tallied a game high 31 points and 13 rebounds as he helped spark a Dakota Wizards second half rally as they knock off the Rio Grande Valley Vipers 107-84 Tuesday night at the Bismarck Civic Center. The Vipers were out-rebounded 52-30 by the Wizards who improve to 11-11 on the season while the Vipers drop to 15-6.
The Vipers struggled out of the gate in every facet of the game. In the first quarter the Vipers shot just 38% from the field on just 16 shots. The Vipers also committed 10 first quarter turnovers and Mike Harris, who scored 48 points in Sunday's win versus Dakota, shot just once and did not connect. Garrett Temple was the only Viper to find his shot as he hit all five of his first quarter field goal attempts including two from behind the arc to score 12 of the Vipers 17 first period points.
Dakota, however scored at will in the first frame. The Wizards hit 56% of their shots to outscore Rio Grande Valley 34-17 at the end of the first 12 minutes of action. Curtis Withers scored nine of his 31 in the first frame to pace the Dakota start
The Vipers would post a huge second quarter rally. The Vipers scored the first six points of the quarter and then after being down 45-33 the Vipers would close out the quarter on a 20-4 run capped off by a Jonathan Walllace three-point jumper to take a 53-49 lead into the intermission. The Vipers outscored Dakota 36-15 in the second quarter to a deficit that reached as many as 17 in the first half. Harris scored 13 points in the frame to lead the Viper rally
Despite a third quarter that saw the Vipers run their lead to as many as seven points, the Wizards began a second half rally that the Vipers had no answer for. Renaldo Major's ally-oop dunk with 1:13 to play in the period put the exclamation point on an 8-0 run that allowed the Wizards to go into the final quarter with a 78-75 lead. Curtis Withers scored 15 of Dakota's 29 third quarter points.
In the fourth Dakota pushed the pedal to the floor in terms of offensive production. The Wizards held the Vipers to just nine points while scoring 29 to end the game with their largest lead of the game of 23 points. The Vipers made only two field goals on 12 shots in a tough fourth quarter as they dropped their first road game in their last four tries.
Harris finished the game with 22 points and seven rebounds and a career high four steals. Temple would score just three points in the final three quarters to finish with 15 while hauling in five rebounds. Will Conroy tallied 17 and dished out eight assists, while Jonathan Wallace scored 12 off thee bench to round out the Rio Grande Valley's top scorers.
Long time Wizards point guard Mo Baker finished a rebound and three assists shy of a triple double while scoring 22. Major scored 18 with eight boards and Darren Cooper scored 16 with four assists to round out the top performers for the Wizards.
The Vipers continue their current four game road swing on Friday when they travel to Erie to face the Erie Bayhawks. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 PM CST.
• Discuss this story on the NBA G League message board...
NBA G League Stories from January 19, 2010
- Wizards' Big Win Earns Series Split With Vipers - Dakota Wizards
- Toros Provide Thrilling Win Over Erie, 121-113 - Austin Spurs
- Wizards Cast Spell In The 4th As Vipers Fall 107-84 - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
- Austin Toros Give Back to the Community During Week of Service - Austin Spurs
- Tip-Off Changed To Noon For Sunday's 66ers Road Game At Dakota - Tulsa 66ers
- Wizards' Sunday Game Moved To 12:00pm - Dakota Wizards
- Albuquerque Acquires Marcus Hubbard - New Mexico Thunderbirds
- Bighorns Acquire Korolev From Albuquerque - Reno Bighorns
- Jam Add Size In Trade With Iowa - Bakersfield Jam
- 66ers On NBA TV's "Real NBA" - Tulsa 66ers
- BayHawks Team With PA Careerlink For Job Fair - Erie BayHawks
- Vipers, Pepper's And Foot Solutions To Hold Shoe Drive - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
- Utah Flash Make Roster Moves - Utah Flash
- Mike Harris Named D-League Performer Of The Week - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
- Rio Grande Valley's Mike Harris Named Performer Of The Week - G League
- Energy's Saturday Home Game To Be Televised Nationally - Iowa Wolves
- NBA D-League Daily Developments - G League
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
