Vipers Take Advantage of Charity to Beat Flash
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 9:46PM OREM, UTAH – The defending NBA Development Leaguechampion Rio Grande Valley Vipers hit 23 more free throws in 21 more attempts towin the only meeting of the season against the Utah Flash, 109-99, on Monday atthe UCCU Center.
The Vipers(22-9) are now winners of three-straight and 15-of-17. They are also within onegame of the first place Tulsa 66ers (23-8).
The Vipersshot 28-for-35 (80%) from the foul line while the Flash (14-15), losers ofthree-straight, were 5-for-14 (35.7%).
Jeff Adrien scored six early points as the Vipersopened the game on a 10-2 run over the first three minutes. The Vipers extendedtheir lead to 22-6 after Terrel Harrisdrained a three-pointer at the 5:30 mark.
Adrienrecorded his 17th double-double in 22 games with 18 points and 13rebounds.
The Flash gotback within single figures for the first time when Andre Ingram hit a three-pointer to cap a 9-2 run to open the thirdquarter, making the score 68-59. JerelMcNeal hit a turnaround jumper to put the lead back into double figures,and the Vipers maintained that until late in the quarter, when the Flash twiceclimbed within seven points at 82-75 on a JordanBrady reverse lay-up and 84-77 on a BrianHamilton driving lay-up.
McNeal led theVipers with 26 points and seven assists while Richard Roby scored with 22 points to go with a career-high 11rebounds while recording his first double-double.
The Flash gotwithin five at 86-81 after Kevin Krugernailed a three-pointer, but the Vipers responded with a 7-2 run to build theirlead back up to 93-83.
Kruger, whowas born in McAllen and is the son of former University of Texas-Pan Americanhead coach Lon Kruger, led the Flashwith 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting.
Ingram hit athree-pointer to bring the Flash back within 95-90 with 6:50 remaining, but Patrick Sullivan responded with alay-up to put the Vipers back up by seven.
The Viperscontinue this 10-day, five-game, three-state, two-time zone road trip on Thursdaywhen they face the Austin Toros at Cedar Park Center at 7:30 p.m. in a gamethat will be televised live on Fox Sports Southwest (Time Warner Cable channel63, DirecTV channel 643, Dish Network channel 416 (SD)/5416 (HD)).
Reader Comments