RGV Capsules: Vipers travel to face L.A. today
Embarking on their first real road trip of the season, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers will get their first real test on just how good they are. And with the team having made several roster changes over the last two weeks — including the acquisition of guard Will Conroy, the NBA D-League’s all-time leading scorer — the time away will be a chance for some good ole bonding.
"I’m looking forward to it," Vipers coach Chris Finch said of the eight-day trip. "With Will here, we get a chance to spend some time together and bond and get everyone integrated. Oftentimes, there are more distractions when you are at home with things outside of basketball. When you are on the road, it’s all about basketball, and that’s what we like."
The Vipers, leaders of the NBA D-League’s Western Conference, play at second-place Los Angeles today; take on Albuquerque (Monday) and Bakersfield (Wednesday) at the D-League Showcase in Boise, Idaho; and finish with back-to-back games at Iowa, which had the league’s best record (12-2) on Saturday.
The Vipers have been money at home, winning all six of their games at Dodge Arena. But they’ve lost their last two on the road with back-to-back games at Tulsa two weeks ago. And they’ve never been away from home for so long this season.
"We just need to play the kind of basketball we’ve been playing, and we’ll be fine," said Vipers guard Antonio Anderson, who leads the team in scoring (18.3 points per game) and assists (6.8). "We don’t need to worry about anyone else but ourselves, and we’ll be fine on our road trip."
When it comes to today’s game at the Staples Center, it’s not like the D-Fenders enjoy a decisive home-court advantage. Only 100 people attended their game there on Tuesday, a 91-80 victory against Albuquerque. The D-Fenders have drawn an average of 134 fans in six games at the Staples Center.
"We have to go up there as a team, play as a team like we’ve been doing," Vipers guard Garrett Temple said. "Nothing is going to change except the venue. We are going to go out there and play hard and play together and try to come out with some wins."
The swing will offer a chance for the Vipers to become better acquainted with Conroy, who got some unexpected playing time on Wednesday, the day he arrived from his hometown of Seattle. The Vipers traded 6-10 center Kurt Looby to Albuquerque for the rights to Conroy, who was the Houston Rockets’ final cut this season. Conroy opted to go home instead of playing for the Thunderbirds this year.
"When the y made the trade, I was grateful to get another chance to be seen by NBA people," Conroy said.
Conroy arrived at Dodge Arena about a half-hour before tip off for Wednesday’s game against Austin, which the Vipers won 114-112. Conroy got some playing time after several Vipers fell into foul trouble. The 6-2 guard gave the Vipers some much needed energy in the third quarter.
"He adds intelligence and he adds poise," Finch said of Conroy. "He has the ability to break a defense down with the ball, which is probably one of our weaker points. And he adds the ability to score when we need him to."
VIPERS ON TV: NBA-TV offers live broadcasts of both Vipers’ games at the D-League Showcase. The Vipers play Albuquerque at noon Monday and Bakersfield at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday.
David Hinojosa covers the Rio Grande Valley Vipers for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4442 or via e-mail at dhinojosa@themonitor.com.
College
Air Force beats Texas-Pan American, 72-65
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — Air Force was a team of walking wounded, having to play without four starters including leading scorer Grant Parker. That wasn’t about to stop the Falcons, however.
"Injuries are a part of the game and you have to play through them," said Air Force’s Derek Brooks. "When you’re sitting there and he tells you to be ready, you have to be ready."
Brooks scored a career-high 16 points and Mike McLain led the way with 25, also a career best, Saturday night as Air Force dealt Texas-Pan American its ninth consecutive loss, 72-65.
Brooks got 29 minutes of playing time as part of a group that made up for the absence of Parker, who sat out for a sixth straight game with a severe groin strain, as well as Sammy Schafer (concussion), Taylor Stewart (broken hand) and Avery Merriex (broken nose, concussion).
"I have been sitting there ready to play," Brooks said. "I know the plays and have been ready."
Evan Washington had 13 for the Falcons (8-5), winners of three of their last four games.
"We’ve got guys that have to step up and play," Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds said. "I thought Derek Brooks came in and gave us a lift and Mike McLain came on and played really well."
Nick Weiermiller’s 25 points led Texas-Pan American (1-14). Jared Maree added 13 for the Broncs, who last won on Nov. 27, when they defeated South Padre Island 67-64.
"We shot the ball really well early and I thought Air Force did some things defensively and made good adjustments," Texas-Pan American coach Ryan Marks said. "We got a little antsy down the stretch and they had a lot of poise offensively."
Trailing by four at the break despite making 50 percent of its shots, Air Force took its first lead, 36-34 on McLain’s basket with 15:16 left in the second half and extended it to 42-34 on a fastbreak layup by Washington. The Broncs didn’t have a field goal in the second half until Aaron Urbaus’ 3-pointer with 10:25 remaining made it 44-38 Falcons.
McLain’s short jumper and two free throws kept it a six-point game, but Weiermiller matched that to get the Broncs within 58-57 with 3:40 left. McLain made two more free throws and Brooks hit a shot from short range to make it a 64-57 game while Texas-Pan American turned the ball over three straight possessions.
"I had some open lanes and took what was given me," McLain said. "Whenever I had an opportunity to take the ball to the hoop, I did it."
"Everything is under a magnifying glass the last two minutes and you have to execute," Marks said.
The Broncs started fast, making 5-of-6 shots, all 3-pointers, to take a 17-12 lead. Brooks made two free throws to tie it at 27, but Matt Mierzycki and Maree had three points each in the final 1:34 to put Texas-Pan American up 33-29 at halftime.
Texas-Pan American has lost all 10 of its road games. They have dropped five straight to Air Force, last beating the Falcons on Feb. 16, 2004.
-- The Associated Press
Lady Broncs open 2010 with 84-31 loss to Oklahoma State
The University of Texas-Pan American women’s basketball program suffered an 84-31 loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla.
UTPA (2-12) had no players in double-figures, but their highest scorers were Marah Guzman and Rose Esther Jean with seven points apiece. Guzman added six boards, one assist, and one steal. Jean collected nine rebounds, a season-high four steals, one block, and one assist.
Oklahoma State (11-2) went on a 28-0 run before Renee Golliday broke the run with a layup at the 13:01 mark. The Cowgirls held back the Lady Broncs as UTPA only scored eight points during the first half compared to Oklahoma State’s 53.
UTPA outscored the Cowgirls in the second half with nine points off of turnovers to Oklahoma State’s seven.
Oklahoma State finished with five players in double-figures, with Andrea Riley scoring a game-high 17 points. Tegan Cunningham finished with 16, Toni Young scored 12, and Precious Robinson and Lakyn Garrison each scored 11 points apiece.
The Lady Broncs return to the UTPA Field House as they play host to LeTourneau at 7 p.m. Monday.
-- UTPA Services
Hockey
Scott scores during Bees' 5-1 loss
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Arizona — Topher Scott scored the only goal for the Killer Bees while the Arizona Sundogs countered with five unanswered tallies to upend Rio Grande Valley 5-1 on Saturday at Tim’s Toyota Center. The win snapped a five-game losing skid for Arizona.
Scott’s goal was his first since Oct. 24 and gave RGV a 1-0 lead at the 17:42 mark of the opening period. Arizona’s Joey Sides knotted things up with 1:06 left in the first and then Linus Fagemo gave the Sundogs the lead 1:48 into the second.
Fagemo, Torren Delforte and Sides all connected in third to extend the Arizona lead. Sundogs goalie Kyle McNulty made 27 saves in the win while RGV’s Andy Franck turned aside 40.
RGV returns home to play Colorado at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9.
-- Killer Bees Services
