HIDALGO, Texas – The Maine Red Claws suffered the second-worst loss in franchise history Wednesday night, a 134-90 drubbing by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in a D-League game at State Farm Arena.
The Vipers (15-7) have won eight straight stretching back to Dec. 31. The Red Claws (10-15) have lost four straight and 8 of 10.
The Red Claws’ worst loss came Dec. 10, 120-71 at Erie.
For the second straight game the Red Claws found themselves in a deep hole. But unlike Tuesday night, when they rallied within one point in the fourth quarter against the Vipers, there were no late heroics.
The Vipers opened a 10-1 lead in the first 2:45 and increased it to 24-6 with 4:33 left in the quarter. The Red Claws missed nine field goals, two free throws and committed two turnovers during the stretch.
The Vipers made six 3-pointers in the second quarter and went into halftime with a 66-40 lead.
The Red Claws tried to get back in by launching long-range field goals, but finished 1 of 20 from behind the arc. Maine missed seven 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. Mario West made the lone 3-pointer 3:01 into the second quarter.
Maine was 36 of 97 (37.1 percent) from the field and trailed 55-44 in rebounds.
Rio Grande Valley had seven players score in double figures led by Richard Roby with 25. Mouhammad Faye had 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and Jerel McNeal scored 17.
West scored 17 points, Kenny Hayes added 15 and Jamar Smith had 14 for the Red Claws, who will close out their Texas swing with games against the Texas Legends on Friday and Monday.
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