Vipers Use 23-1 Run to Put Away Thunderbirds

RIO RANCHO, NEW MEXICO – The defending NBA Development Leaguechampion Rio Grande Valley Vipers went on a 23-1 run over the final fiveminutes of the third quarter to take the lead and defeat the New Mexico Thunderbirds116-110 on Friday at Santa Ana Star Center.

The Vipers(20-9) led through out the first half, but the Thunderbirds (14-17) opened thethird quarter on a 7-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 68-67 aftera Nick Raivio three-pointer at the10:21 mark. The lead started changing hands often after that, with the Viperstying the game on a three-point play by JeffAdrien and taking the lead back for good at 83-80 with 3:28 remaining on Patrick Sullivan’s first of twothree-pointers. Matt Janning converteda three-point play and then hit a three-pointer to spark the Vipers’ run. TheVipers ended the third quarter leading 100-81. Janning scored 11 of hiscareer-high 23 points in the third quarter.

Adrienrecorded his 15th double-double in 20 games with 17 points and acareer-high tying 16 rebounds while Sullivan finished with 14 points.

TheThunderbirds opened the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run, broken when Adrien hit apair of free throws at the 8:23 mark to make it 102-92. The Thunderbirds scoredthe next five points before Houston Rockets-assignee Ish Smith hit the Vipers’ first basket of the quarter on a spinmove that led to a floater at the 6:40 mark. The Vipers were outscored 29-16 inthe quarter.

Adrienscored 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 topull within 30-27.

The Vipersbuilt their lead up to 11 at 45-34 following a Sullivan three-point play with8:26 remaining in the second quarter, but the Thunderbirds responded with a 19-9run to pull within 54-53 after JoshBostic hit a jumper at the 4:35 mark. The Vipers answered with an 8-2 run, cappedby a three-pointer from Connor Atchley.

Bosticfinished with a game-high 26 points to go with 10 rebounds while Walter Sharpe scored 20 points with 12rebounds.

The Vipers andThunderbirds complete the season series on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at the SantaAna Star Center.