Vipers Punch Ticket to Semifinals

HIDALGO, TEXAS –The defending NBA Development League champion and third-seeded Rio GrandeValley Vipers win the best-of-three Quarterfinals series two games to one overthe sixth-seeded Bakersfield Jam with a 112-99 victory in Game 3 on Wednesdayat State Farm Arena in front of a crowd of 3,496.

The Vipers (2-1)win their fifth consecutive elimination game dating back to last year’splayoffs and advance to the semifinals against either the second-seeded RenoBighorns or the fifth-seeded Erie BayHawks, who play a decisive Game 3 in Renoon Thursday.

Jerel McNeal and MouhammadFaye hit back-to-back three points to give the Vipers a 6-0 lead, but theJam (1-2) responded with a 7-0 run to take the lead. Faye hit anotherthree-pointer to give the Vipers the lead right back. The lead changed hands 12times in the first half, with neither team leading by more than five points againuntil Matt Janning nailed a deepthree pointer with 2.5 seconds left in the second quarter to put the Vipers up59-53.

After Janningopened the third quarter with a jumper, the Jam hit back-to-back baskets topull within 61-58 with 10:52 remaining. The Vipers responded with a 16-3 run. TheVipers scored the final 10 points of the run as Janning hit a three-pointer,the Vipers stole the ball, Jon Scheyerhit a three, and then the next time down the court Patrick Sullivan picked up a rebound and a tip-in. Jerel McNeal’s lay-up put the Vipers up77-61 with 7:00 remaining. The Vipers maintained a double-digit lead for therest of the game.

McNeal led theVipers in scoring for the third-straight game, tallying a double-double with 21points, 12 assists and eight rebounds. Sullivan scored 20 points on 8-of-9shooting with seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Janning hit fourthree-pointers while scoring 17 points. TerrelHarris scored 18 points with seven rebounds.

The Jam wereled by Derrick Byars, who scored 26points. Jeremy Wise finished with 25points.