VIPERS 42-POINT THIRD QUARTER LEADS TO VICTORY

EDINBURG, Texas. (Dec. 29, 2023) – The Rio Grande Valley Vipers (2-0), the NBA G League affiliate of the Houston Rockets, earned a 112-105 victory against the NBA G League Ignite (0-2) on Friday night at Bert Ogden Arena. 

The game began with a score of 4-4 before Ignite went on an 8-0 run and took a 12-4 advantage with nine minutes to go. Ignite continued on top until the clock struck 6:24 and the Vipers tied it up 17-17. The visiting team then picked the pace back up and took over the first quarter with a score of 34-27. 

Ignite had a 10-point lead in the second quarter, but RGV started inching closer to Ignite and set the score at 45-43 with less than five minutes to go. RGV continued to push to rise to the top but Ignite pulled away with a 59-45 lead at halftime.

During the third quarter Ignite led by 16 points and a score of 67-51 with 10 minutes on the clock, but RGV went on an 18-2 run and tied the game at 69-69 with 5:22 remaining. Ignite then pulled away, but RGV came back and tied the game. The final tie in the quarter was with less than two minutes remaining and the Vipers set the score at 82-82, but this time it was the Vipers who pulled away and walked off with an 87-85 lead.  

RGV had a nine-point lead (100-91) in the fourth quarter with 5:18 on the clock but Ignite closed that gap and set the score at 102-97. Despite Ignite’s efforts to take the lead back RGV pulled away and earned a 112-105 victory. 

Jarret Culver led all scorers with 26 points, seven rebounds and 3 assists. Houston Rockets Two-Way Nate Williams Jr. put up 21 points, seven rebounds and assists. Houston Rockets Two-Way Nate Hinton put up 18 points and six rebounds. Two-Way player Jermaine Samuels Jr. put up 14 points followed by Ray Spalding with 10 points and seven rebounds. 

Izan Almansa led Ignite with a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds. London Johnson had 18 points followed by John Jenkins and Tyler Smith who both had 13 points each. Matas Buzelis contributed 11 points and Norris Cole contributed 10 points. 

The Vipers return to the Bert Ogden Arena for a back-to-back against the Memphis Hustle on Friday, Jan. 5 and Saturday Jan. 6 with tip-off set at 7:30 p.m. CST for both games. On Friday the first 500 fans in attendance will receive a Vipers and Raising Cane’s co-branded dog leash to celebrate its Points for Pets night presented by Raising Cane’s. The giveaways continue Saturday as the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a Fang and Farrah pillow courtesy of Driscoll Health Plan. To purchase tickets, visit www.rgvipers.com.