Vipers Complete Sweep of Thunderbirds

HIDALGO, TEXAS – Houston Rockets-assignee Patrick Patterson recorded his third double-double of the season with a career-high 24 points and a career-high 14 rebounds as the defending NBA Development League champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers beat the New Mexico Thunderbirds 107-91 on Wednesday at State Farm Arena in front of a crowd of 3,788.

The Vipers (4-3) are now winners of three in a row.

The Thunderbirds (4-3) jumped out to an 11-0 lead in the opening 1:47. Antonio Anderson hit a free throw and Patrick Sullivan hit a lay-up under the 10-minute mark to get the Vipers (3-3) on the board for the first time in the game.

The Thunderbirds increased their lead to 17-5, and then 22-9, but Richard Roby hit a three-pointer at the 5:27 mark as the Vipers outscored the Thunderbirds 16-8 over the rest of the first quarter.

The Vipers opened the second quarter on an 8-2, capped by an alley-oop to Mickell Gladness that gave the Vipers their first lead of the game at 33-32 at the 10:07 mark.

The Thunderbirds responded with a 16-3 run to take a 48-36 lead mid-way through the second quarter. The Vipers closed the quarter on a 16-7 run to climb within 55-52.

Patterson hit a jumper to give the Vipers the lead back 58-57 with 9:31 remaining in the third quarter. It turned into a back-and-forth game from there, with Garrett Temple hitting a three-pointer early in the fourth quarter to give the Vipers the lead for good. Mustafa Shakur followed with a lay-up the next time down the court to make it 82-78 Vipers.

The Thunderbirds were led in scoring by Shane Edwards, who scored 33 points while hitting 17-of-21 free throws. Alan Anderson scored 19 points as well.

The Vipers return to action on Friday at 9:00 p.m. at the Reno Events Center when they face the Reno Bighorns.

Notes: Before the game, Antonio Anderson was honored with his 2010 NBA Development League championship ring.