LECQUE FOR TWO LIFTS VIPERS PAST CAPITANES

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (March 25, 2024) – The Rio Grande Valley Vipers (19-12), the NBA G League affiliate of the Houston Rockets, obtained a 121-118 overtime victory over the Mexico City Capitanes (16-15) on Monday night at Arena CDMX. 

As soon as the game tipped-off the Capitanes jumped on an 8-0 run. At 7:12 the Vipers tied it 14-14, but the visiting team then ran away with the advantage. When the clock struck 2:40 the Capitanes tied the game 28-28 and then ran away with a 37-33 lead at the end of the first. 

Mexico City had control over the second quarter until the clock struck two minutes and a three-pointer by Houston Rockets Two-Way Jermaine Samuels Jr. tied the game at 60-60. The quarter was then tied one more time 63-63 with one minute on the clock, but Mexico City went on to score four points while a three-pointer at the buzzer from Jalen Lecque sent the game into halftime 67-66. 

RGV took over the third quarter within the first minute. The Capitanes then took its first lead of the third with less than six minutes to go 78-76. The Vipers responded by taking back the upper hand and closed the quarter with an 88-85 lead. 

With 6:45 to go, the quarter had two lead changes and one time tied. The game then became tied three more times with the final time being at the buzzer which resulted in an overtime game after a 113-113 draw. 

The Vipers began overtime with a 6-1 run to set the score 119-114. The game came down to the wire, but in the end the Vipers came out victorious 121-118 with a two-pointer from Lecque. 

Samuels Jr. led the Vipers with 31 points. Jarrett Culver had 25 points. Houston Rockets Two-Way Nate Hinton had a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Lecque finished with 17 points. 

Ethan Thompson paved the way for the Capitanes with 26 points. Iverson Molinar had 23 points. Both Kenneth Faried and Phillip Wheeler finished the night with 19 points each. Wheeler also had 11 rebounds for a double-double. 

On Wednesday, March 27 the Vipers return to the Arena CDMX for game two against the Capitanes. Tip-off is slated for 9:00 p.m. CST. For more information visit www.rgvipers.com.