Vipers Tie Franchise Record with Sixth-Straight Win

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS – The defending NBA Development Leaguechampion Rio Grande Valley Vipers won their sixth-straight game for the thirdtime in franchise history by beating the Erie Bayhawks 124-106 Wednesday at theSouth Padre Island Convention Centre in the final game of day three of the NBADevelopment League Showcase.

Jeff Adrien continued his hot play for the Vipers(13-7), recording his eighth double-double in 11 games with 20 points and acareer-high 16 rebounds (eight offensive) and four blocks.

TheVipers jumped out to a 26-13 lead after a pair of two-handed slams by Adrien.The Vipers led 33-22 after the first quarter, but the Bayhawks (14-7) openedthe second quarter on an 11-0 run to tie the game. Mouhammad Faye ended the run at the 8:32 mark with a slam dunk.

TheVipers opened the third quarter on a 16-4 run to build a 74-53 lead, capped offby a three-pointer by Jerel McNeal.Former-Viper Garrett Temple hit afree throw to end the run at the 7:29 mark. The Vipers outscored the Bayhawks34-25 in the quarter to take a 91-74 lead.

McNealled the Vipers with 27 points, hitting 3-of-4 shots from behind the arc to gowith five rebounds and seven assists while RichardRoby scored 27 points with six rebounds and Mustafa Shakur scored 21 points with seven rebounds and fiveassists.

TheVipers hit 8-of-19 shots (42.1%) from behind the arc while the Bayhawks hit2-of-16 (12.5%).

TheBayhawks were led by former-Viper IvanJohnson (2007-08 season), who scored 25 points with five rebounds. Templefinished with five points, eight rebounds and five assists.

The Vipersreturn to action on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. at State Farm Arena when they host theMaine Red Claws. It’s College Night, presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive spirit tags, courtesy ofAcademy Sports + Outdoors. Fans can donate four non-perishable food items atthe door to benefit the Salvation Army toy drive to receive a free ticket. Fanscan also purchase $1 hot dogs, popcorn and soda as well as $1.50 beers.

Adrien, Vipers, Showcase Talent in Win Over Mad Ants

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS – JeffAdrien recorded his seventh double-double in ten games with 30 points and12 rebounds and two blocks as the defending NBA Development League champion RioGrande Valley Vipers beat the Fort Wayne Mad Ants 100-97 Monday at the SouthPadre Island Convention Centre in the final game of day one of the NBADevelopment League Showcase.

Adrien hit12-of-15 shots and 6-of-7 from the foul line.

The Vipers (12-7)are winners of five in a row.

The Vipersopened game on 6-0 run capped by a JerelMcNeal jumper at the 9:36 mark. The Mad Ants (12-8) responded with a 6-0run to tie the game when Marvin Phillipstipped in a shot at the 6:57 mark

Phillipsbrought the Mad Ants within 34-33 with 6:17 remaining in the second quarter,but the Vipers responded with a 10-3 run to go up 44-36 after fourth-year ViperStanley Asumnu hit a free throw with3:02 remaining. The Mad Ants climbed back to within three, but Mustafa Shakur hit a three-pointer withtwo seconds remaining to give the Vipers a 49-43 lead.

Shakurfinished with 19 points and a career-high tying four steals.

TheVipers led 59-55 with 5:32 remaining in the third quarter after McNeal hit athree-pointer, but the Mad Ants went on an 11-5 run, capped by a pair of freethrows by Roderick Wilmont to take a66-64 lead at the 3:16 mark. After the teams traded baskets, McNeal hit athree-pointer near the end of the quarter to knot the game up at 74-74.

Oliver Lafayette hit a pair of free throws to bring theMad Ants within 81-80 with 8:50 remaining, but the Vipers responded with a 9-2run, thanks in-part to three baskets by Adrien to take a 90-82 lead. The Mad Antsresponded with a 13-2 run, capped by a three-pointer by Lafayette to tie thegame and a three-pointer by Wilmont to give the Mad Ants a 95-92 lead withunder four minutes remaining. TerrelHarris and McNeal followed with back-to-back baskets to give the Vipers a96-95 lead with under three minutes remaining.

McNealfinished with 21 points while Harris finished with six points and a career-highfive assists.

Lafayetteled the Mad Ants with 21 points while Wilmont scored 20 points.

The Vipersreturn to action on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at the South Padre Island ConventionCentre when they face the Erie Bayhawks during the NBA Development League Showcase.Fans are encouraged to wear red as the game will be televised nationally onVERSUS (channel 314 (SD)/1314 (HD) on Time Warner Cable, channel 151 on Dish Networkand channel 603 on DIRECTV).

Vipers Honoring Military Friday

MCALLEN, TEXAS – The defending NBA DevelopmentLeague champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers announced Wednesday that they arehosting Military Night on Friday, presented by Valley Grande Institute, whenthe play the Austin Toros at 7:00 p.m. at State Farm Arena.

The Vipers will also be welcoming Acrodunk toperform at halftime for the third-straight year on Saturday when the host theToros again at 7:00 p.m. at State Farm Arena.

On Friday, Military veterans will unfurl andhold a giant American flag for the national anthem before the game and gethonored again at halftime. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive cow bells,courtesy of Valley Grande Institute.

Before each game, the Vipers are hosting a freepre-game tailgate party, courtesy of Pepper’s at Uptown and Budweiser.

Fans can take advantage of the State Farm Family4 Pack for each game, which includes four tickets, four hot dogs and four sodasfor $44.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Tickets start at $7 andcan be purchased in advance by calling the Vipers at 972-1144, at the VipersPro-Shop, or online at rgvipers.com.

Vipers and Academy Sports + Outdoors Holding Go To Work Sweepstakes

MCALLEN, TEXAS – The defending NBA DevelopmentLeague champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers and Academy Sprots + Outdoorsannounced Thursday that they are giving four fans the opportunity to own theVipers, be the President of the Vipers, coach the Vipers and report on theVipers on Tuesday, January 18 and four more fans will get the opportunity onFriday, March 18.

The owner for a day will get to meet Vipersprinciple owner Alonzo Cantu and sitin two of his seats during the first quarter of the game.

The coach for a day will get to observe theVipers pre-game warm-up before the game, get a tour of the locker room and meetthe Vipers’ coaching staff.

The president for a day will get to shadowVipers President Bert Garcia duringthe game.

The reporter for a day will get to shadow David Hinojosa, who covers the Vipersfor The Monitor, during the game.

Fans can sign up at Academy Sports + Outdoorslocations valley-wide, at Vipers home games at State Farm Arena, at the VipersPro-Shop (4500 N. 10th St. in McAllen) and online at rgvipers.com.No purchase is necessary to enter. For official rules, fans can visit rgvipers.com.

Vipers Come From Behind to Beat Skyforce

HIDALGO, TEXAS –Down by as many as nine point in the first half, the defending NBADevelopment League champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers turned around 22 points tobeat the Sioux Falls Skyforce 106-92 Saturday at State Farm Arena.

The Vipers(9-7) are winners of two in a row while the Skyforce (2-12) are losers ofseven-straight.

The Skyforcejumped out to a 7-0 lead until MustafaShakur found Mouhammad Faye foran alley-oop with 8:21 remaining in the first quarter. The Vipers were down19-11 at the 4:05 mark after RaymondSykes hit a jumper, but TerrelHarris and Jerel McNeal hitback-to-back three-pointers to make it 19-14 with 3:43 remaining. The Vipersclimbed to within 28-26 at the end of the first quarter when McNeal hit a deeptwo-pointer from the right wing.

Harristied the game for the first time at 44-44 with 3:09 remaining in the secondquarter. Jeff Adrien hit a lay-up 35seconds later to give the Vipers their first lead at 46-44. A Faye dunk gavethe Vipers a 7-0 run with under one minute left in the second quarter.

TheVipers opened the third quarter on a 17-4 run, capped by a lay-up from Shakur,to extend their lead to 68-52.

Antonio Anderson had a strong game for the Vipers,hitting three three-pointers while scoring 14 points and recording a +26defensive rating. Harris led the Vipers with a career-high 22 points, hitting acareer-high five three-pointers, and Adrien recorded a double-double with 15points, a career-high 12 rebounds and a career-high five blocked shots.

Anthony Mason Jr. led the Skyforce with 21 points while Keaton Grant finished with 16 pointsand nine rebounds.

The Vipers welcomethe Austin Toros to town for the first of two on Friday at 7:00 p.m. at StateFarm Arena. It’s Military Night. The first 1,000 fans in attendance willreceive cowbells, courtesy of Valley Grande Institute. Fans can take advantageof the State Farm Family 4 Pack, which consists of four tickets, four hot dogsand four sodas for $44. Doors open at 6:00.