Vipers Complete Season Sweep of Thunderbirds

RIO RANCHO, NEW MEXICO – The defending NBA Development Leaguechampion Rio Grande Valley Vipers finish the season 5-0 against the New MexicoThunderbirds after a 116-96 victory on Saturday at Santa Ana Star Center.

The Vipers(21-9) are now winners of 14-of-16.

The Vipers openedthe game on a 7-2 run during the opening two minutes, but after Walter Sharpe hit a basket, Abdulai Jalloh hit three free throws to tie the game. The Vipers respondedwith an 8-0 run as Houston Rockets-assignee Ish Smith, hit a lay-up, RichardRoby had a dunk, Mouhammad Fayehit a three-pointer and Jerel McNealhit a free throw to make it 15-7 Vipers with 6:57 remaining in the firstquarter.

Smith posted histhird double-double with 10 points and 13 assists. The Thunderbirds (14-19) hadfewer assists as a team, finishing with 12.

The Vipersextended their lead to 25 points at 73-48 when Connor Atchley drained a three-pointer with 6:31 remaining in thethird quarter. The Vipers grew gottheir lead to 27 at 105-78 after JeffAdrien hit a hook shot with 8:16 remaining.

Adrienrecorded his 16th double-double in 21 games with 25 points, 10rebounds, three steals and one block.

The Vipersoutscored the Thunderbirds 14-to-4 in second chance points and 30-14 in fastbreak points.

TheThunderbirds were led by Dar Tucker,who finished with 24 points. ShaneEdwards scored 20 points while JoshBostic had 15.

The Vipers continuethis 10-day, five-game, three-state, two-time zone road trip on Monday whenthey face the Utah Flash at the McKay Events Center in Orem, Utah, at 8:00 p.m.