VIPERS TAKE DOWN SQUADRON IN 134-124 VICTORY4

VIPERS TAKE DOWN SQUADRON IN 134-124 VICTORY

Birmingham, Alabama (March 5, 2023) – The Rio Grande Valley Vipers (12-12), the NBA G League affiliate of the Houston Rockets, defeated the Birmingham Squadron (6-19) on Sunday night at Legacy Arena. 

Birmingham opened the game by going on a 4-0 run. RGV then responded by going on a 6-0 run and taking a 6-4 lead. The Squadron then made a comeback, with 4:27 to go the team took an 18-12 lead. With less than two minutes to go in the quarter Birmingham led 25-20, but the Vipers responded by going on a 5-0 run and tied the game 25-25 at the end of the first. Houston Rockets Two-Way player Darius Days was responsible for scoring 13 out of the 25 points for the Vipers.

With 8:27 to go in the second quarter the Squadron led 36-32. The Vipers then hit a 13-0 run and took a 45-36 lead over the home team. When the clock hit 5:30 Birmingham was able to stop the Vipers run and set the score 45-38, but the stop was not enough to halt the Vipers for the remainder of the quarter as the visiting team continued to extend its lead and sent the game into halftime with a 65-49 lead. 

In the third quarter RGV outscored its opponent 42-37 and extended its lead by 21 points and a score of 107-86. 

Going into the fourth quarter RGV led by as many as 21-points, but that lead was cut down to seven points as Birmingham set the score at 109-107 with 8:12 left on the clock. Despite the Squadron’s efforts to come back, the Vipers pulled away with a 134-124 victory. 

Days led all scorers with 33 points. Houston Rockets Two-Way player Trevor Hudgins finished the night with 24 points. Trhae Mitchell posted a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Jalen Lecque scored 20 points from off the bench. Both Jarrett Culver and Mustapha Heron finished the game with 15 points each. 

Malcolm Hill led the Squadron with 21 points. James Kelly Sr. followed with a double-double, 20 points and 13 rebounds. Javonte Smart and Daeqwon Plowden each finished with 17 points. Kelan Martin and Feron Hunt contributed 15 points each. New Orleans Pelicans Two-Way player Dereon Seabron totaled 11 points. 

The Vipers return to the Bert Ogden Arena on Wednesday, March 8 as the team will take on the Greensboro Swarm at 7:00 p.m. CT. RGV continues the action on Thursday, March 9 as the team welcomes the Iowa Wolves to its home court with tip-off set at 7:00 p.m. CT. Both games can be streamed via ESPN+ or Somos El Valle 5.3. For more information visit www.rgvipers.com.