RENO, Nev.—- The Reno Bighorns (11-17) fell to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (17-12) 119-114 Friday night at the Reno Events Center.
Sacramento Kings Affiliate Player Lamar Patterson led the Bighorns with 39 points and seven rebounds while affiliate player Isiah Cousins notched 22 points, five rebounds and eight assists. Kings assignment player Georgios Papagiannis recorded his fourth double-double of the season 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Darius Morrris paced the Vipers with 27 points, five rebounds and five assists while Chinanu Onuaku had 19 points and 11 rebounds.
The opening quarter was a fast-paced, tightly contested play in which neither team led by more than six points. Patterson led all scorers in the first frame with 13 points, helping the Bighorns to a one-point advantage to start the second frame.
The head-to-head battle carried through to a high-scoring frame with Reno and Rio Grande Valley both scoring over 29 points. The Bighorns led by as many as eight points, despite the frame seeing eight lead changes and four ties. The Bighorns led the Vipers 61-57 at the half.
The Bighorns held a double-digit lead over at the 8:00 mark until the Vipers went on a late rally to leave the Bighorns trailing by one point to end the third period.
The Bighorns held the upper hand on the Vipers to open the final frame after six points from Patterson in the first minute and a half of play. The Vipers retook control of the lead after two lay-ups from Jarvis Threatt and a lay-up from Walker. Despite Patterson scoring 13 points in the final frame, the Vipers would not relinquish the lead.
The Bighorns will return to the Reno Events Center on Sunday, Jan. 29 to host the Salt Lake City Stars at 5 p.m. The Kings entertainment team will join the Bighorns for affiliate games in Reno during the January 29 contest. Kings Legends, Sacramento Kings Dancers, Mascot Slamson and more will be on hand to give fans in Reno an opportunity to connect directly with the Sacramento organization.
–bighorns—
About the Reno Bighorns:
The Reno Bighorns are a member of the NBA Development League, the official minor league of the NBA. The Bighorns are affiliated with the Sacramento Kings. Season tickets for the 2016-17 season are on sale now! For more information, call the Bighorns front office at 775-853-8220 or visit RenoBighorns.com. Follow us on Twitter @renobighorns and “like” the Bighorns on Facebook at facebook.com/bighornshoops. The NBA Development League is the NBA’s official minor league, preparing players, coaches, officials, trainers, and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory. Featuring 22 teams with direct affiliations with NBA franchises for the 2016-17 season, the league offers elite professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. An all-time high 38 percent of all NBA players at the end of the 2015-16 season boasted NBA D-League experience. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. Fans can watch all NBA D-League games on nbadleague.com.
Thursday, December 1, 2016 Kyle Jones: kjones@renobighorns.com
BIGHORNS FALL SHORT TO THE VIPERS
RENO, Nev. —- The Reno Bighorns (2-6) fell to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (6-2) 103-83 Thursday night at the Reno Events Center.
Sacramento Kings Assignment Player Skal Labissiere led the Bighorns with 20 points and six rebounds while Kings Affiliate Player Lamar Patterson added 18 points, two rebounds and two assists. Chane Behanan notched nine points and seven rebounds in the Thursday night contest.
Darius Morris paces the Vipers with 21 points, six rebounds and six assists as Jarvis Threatt tallied 17 points and five rebounds.
The opening minutes of the first frame was a tight battle that saw three lead changes in three minutes as the Bighorns held the edge over the Vipers until Le’Bryan Nash sunk two free throws after being fouled by Patterson. The Vipers would jump out to a 16-point lead heading into the second quarter.
The two teams remained scoreless the first two minutes of play in the second quarter before Nash scored a free throw. The Bighorns responded with a floating jumper by Patterson and a layup from Labissiere to close the deficit to 15. The Vipers would maintain their double digit lead over the Bighorns before the Bighorns responded with a late 5-0 run to end the first half trailing the Vipers 54-32.
Labissiere ended the first half behind a 4-4 shooting effort, totaling 16 points.
The Bighorns outscored the Vipers 29-23 in the third quarter behind two triples from Patterson and a 2-3 shooting effort from Labissiere. The Bighorns chipped away at the Vipers lead cutting the deficit to 15 after a triple from Patterson with 4:15 remaining to play in third. Kings Assignment Player Geogios Papagiannis added the final points for the Bighorns in the third after a layup with 30 second in play. The Vipers led the Bighorns 77-61 entering the final quarter.
Patterson opened the fourth quarter with a three cutting the deficit to 79-66 with just under 10:00 remaining in play. The Bighorns were able to come within 13 points during the final frame, but were unable to overcome the Vipers lead, ultimately dropping 103-83 to the Vipers.
The Bighorns will travel to Arizona to take on the Northern Arizona Suns on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. PST.
–bighorns—
About the Reno Bighorns:
The Reno Bighorns are a member of the NBA Development League, the official minor league of the NBA. The Bighorns are affiliated with the Sacramento Kings. Season tickets for the 2016-17 season are on sale now! For more information, call the Bighorns front office at 775-853-8220 or visit RenoBighorns.com. Follow us on Twitter @renobighorns and “like” the Bighorns on Facebook at facebook.com/bighornshoops. The NBA Development League is the NBA’s official minor league, preparing players, coaches, officials, trainers, and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory. Featuring 22 teams with direct affiliations with NBA franchises for the 2016-17 season, the league offers elite professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. An all-time high 38 percent of all NBA players at the end of the 2015-16 season boasted NBA D-League experience. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. Fans can watch all NBA D-League games on nbadleague.com.