Vipers Win Franchise Record Fifth-Straight Road Game

CEDAR PARK, TEXAS – The defending NBA Development Leaguechampion Rio Grande Valley Vipers won their franchise record fifth-straighthome game by leading wire-to-wire for the second-straight game in a 117-97victory over the Austin Toros on Thursday at Cedar Park Center.

The Vipers (23-9),who have the second-best record in the league, are now winners of four-straightand 16-of-18. They are also within half of one game of the first place Tulsa66ers (23-8).

Terrel Harris scored five points as the Vipers openedthe game on a 9-2 run over the first three and a half minutes. The Vipers hit13 of their first 20 shots (65%) while the Toros (12-18) hit 5-of-23 (21.7%) asthe Vipers took a 28-15 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Toros cameback in the second quarter, getting as close as 54-49 when Carldell Johnson hit a jumper with 1:02 remaining, but the Vipersoutscored the Toros 38-17 over the next 13 minutes to take an 92-66 lead when Patrick Sullivan hit a pair of free throws with 4.9 second remaining in thethird quarter.

Seven of theeight Vipers on the roster reached double-figures in scoring: Harris (19),  JerelMcNeal (18), Jeff Adrien (17), Sullivan(17), Connor Atchley (16), Mouhammad Faye (14), Richard Roby (14).

Faye also recorded10 rebounds for his second double-double. MattJanning recorded a career-high 10 rebounds while tying his career-high withseven assists.

The Toros wereled by Kevin Palmer, who scored 22points with eight rebounds.

The Vipers completethis 10-day, five-game, three-state, two-time zone road trip on Saturday againstthe Austin Toros at Cedar Park Center at 12:00 p.m.

Vipers Take Advantage of Charity to Beat Flash

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)).

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.

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.

Vipers TAke 2-1 Series Lead With Win Over Energy

HIDALGO, TEXAS – The defending NBA Development Leaguechampion Rio Grande Valley Vipers passed the Iowa Energy for the second-bestrecord in the league with a 135-128 victory on Tuesday at State Farm Arena infront of a crowd of 5,408.

The Vipers nowlead the four-game series two games to one.

TheEnergy (20-9) opened the second quarter on an 11-0 run to take a 36-27 lead atthe 8:43 mark. Jeff Adrien respondedwith a basket to break the run. After a technical free throw, Mouhammad Faye hit a three-pointer andadidas Player of the Game Jerel McNealhit a basket to bring the Vipers (19-8) within 37-34 at the 7:13 mark. TheEnergy built their lead to 48-38 after OthyusJeffers hit a lay-up at the 4:49 mark, but the Vipers went on a 22-7 run,capped by a three-pointer from McNeal, to reclaim the lead at 56-54 with lessthan one minutes remaining in the quarter.

McNealfinished with a game-high 27 points on 8-of-17 shooting, including 4-of-8 frombehind the arc to go with six rebounds and seven assists.

Jeffersled the Energy in scoring with 26 points and 10 rebounds while ChicagoBulls-assignee James Johnsonnarrowly missed a triple-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.The Energy shot 53-for-112 (47.3%), setting a Vipers franchise record for fieldgoal attempts for opponent while tying for the second-most field goals made.

Patrick Sullivan hit the first two three-pointers of hiscareer (he was 0-for-1 from behind the arc in his first 26 games) during thethird quarter while the Vipers outscored the Energy 43-31 to take a 102-87 lead.It was his first ever multi-three pointer game (he was 1-for-5 in four years atSoutheastern Louisiana, with all of those attempts coming during his seniorseason of 2009-10).

TheVipers led 119-106 midway through the fourth quarter, but the Energy went on a12-0 run to pull within one point before Faye hit a three-pointer at the 3:17mark to end the run. Stefhon Hannahhit a pair of free throws to pull the Energy back within two, but HoustonRockets-assignee Ish Smith respondedwith a lay-up. After another free throw, Adrien hit a basket to give the Vipersa 126-121 lead with under two minutes remaining. Hannah hit a lay-up to make ita one-possession game, but Adrien hit another lay-up and then forced a turnoveron the other end to put the game out of reach.

Smithscored 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting with a career-high tying six rebounds,seven assists, two steals and a career-high four blocked shots.

The Vipers andEnergy play game four of this four-game series on Double-Win Wednesday at 7:00p.m. at State Farm Arena. If the Vipers win, all fans in attendance will beable to receive free tickets to the next Vipers home game. Fans can takeadvantage of concessions specials including hot dogs, popcorn and soda for$1.00 each as well as beer for $1.50. Every donation of four non-perishablefood items at the door to benefit the Hoops Against Hunger food drive, presentedby Action 4 News and Clear Channel Radio (KTEX 100.3, Wild 104, The X 105.5,Hot Kiss 106.3 and Classic Hits 1700 AM), will be rewarded with one freeticket. Doors open at 6:00.