Last-Second Three Sinks 66ers

Originally Published: Apr 27, 2010 11:40 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

HIDALGO, Texas -- A last-second 3-pointer by Craig Winder clinched the Rio Grande Valley Vipers’ sweep of the Tulsa 66ers in the NBA Developmental League final.

Tulsa used an 8-1 run early in the game to take a 12-5 lead just three minutes into the contest. Rio Grande Valley answered with an 8-1 run of its own, including back-to-back 3-pointers, to tie the game. The Vipers finished the quarter on a 5-2 run to take a 24-22 lead.

Four minutes into the second quarter, Rio Grande Valley scored seven straight points – including five from Julian Sensley – to extend its lead to eight points.

Wink Anderson answered for the 66ers, hitting back-to-back from behind the arc to tie the game. That was a part of 10-2 run that gave Tulsa the lead. Rio Grande Valley retook the lead after Michael Harris was fouled on a 3-pointer and hit all three.

The Vipers continued to expand their lead with a 9-2 run in the opening minutes of the half to take a 51-45 lead. But the 66ers responded with a 10-2 run to retake a two-point lead over Rio Grande Valley and would eventually tie the game. JaJuan Smith gave Tulsa a three-point lead with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the third quarter.

Both teams battled back and forth, but Winder took the fourth quarter over. The third-year guard out of Texas took the game over in the closing minutes, scoring 14 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter. Twelve of his 14 fourth-quarter points came from behind the arc, including the buzzer-beater that secured the title for the Vipers.

Harris led the Vipers with 26 points and 16 rebounds, while Winder added 16 points and four boards. Larry Owens paced the 66ers with 25 points and six rebounds and Latavious Williams chipped in with 14 points and eight rebounds.