Rio Grande Valley Holds off Iowa, 124-120

DES MOINES, Iowa – Jalen Lecque’s late four-point play was the deciding basket for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers who held off the Iowa Wolves in a 124-120 win on Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Arena.

Lecque, who finished with a team-high 26 points behind five threes, made a deep three-pointer from the left wing and was fouled. His free throw gave Rio Valley (9-1) a 121-118 lead. On the previous Vipers’ possession Lecque buried another three.

Iowa (2-9) was led by Minnesota assignment player Josh Minott who scored a game-high 28 points. Minott’s alley oop from fellow Timberwolves’ assignment player Leonard Miller gave the Wolves their final lead, 118-117, before Lecque’s last three.

Iowa still had a final chance after Minott’s acrobatic putback with 30.5 seconds left pulled the Wolves within two points. Following a Rio Valley timeout, D.J. Carton stole the basketball that set up the chance, but Miller’s shot was blocked, and the Vipers converted both free throws after a quick foul by the Wolves.

Miller scored 25 points while Javonte Cooke had 20 and Tyrese Martin chipped in 19. Darius Days and Jarrett Culver scored 23 and 22 points, respectively, for the Vipers. 

Rio Grande Valley made 15 threes and held Iowa to just seven. The Vipers forced 22 Wolves’ turnovers that led to 30 points. Iowa made 17-of-22 free throws.

Next on the schedule for Iowa is a back-to-back series at the Texas Legends Friday and Saturday. Both games will tipoff at 7:30 p.m.