Hustle win fourth straight, end Vipers’ nine-game winning streak

By Memphis Hustle Staff /December 17, 2022

SOUTHAVEN, MS - DECEMBER 16: Kenneth Lofton Jr. #6 of the Memphis Hustle dribbles the ball against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers during an NBA G-League game on December 16, 2022 at Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi. Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images

Southaven, Miss. – The Memphis Hustle won their fourth consecutive game and ended Rio Grande Valley Vipers’ nine-game winning streak, 117-113, Friday at the Landers Center.

Kenneth Lofton Jr. recorded season highs with 33 points and 16 rebounds and played the hero down the stretch, scoring four from the foul line to give the Hustle the lead and then blocking Louis King’s potential game-tying layup with 10.2 seconds remaining. Lofton Jr., whose previous season highs of 31 points and 14 rebounds also came against the Vipers, recorded his fifth double-double of the season.

Jake LaRavia and Justin Bean scored 18 points apiece for the Hustle, while Dakota Mathias and Damien Jefferson added 12 points each.

Josh Christopher scored 31 points to lead the Vipers, who suffered their first loss since Nov. 23. King netted 22 points while Darius Days chipped in with 20 points.

Memphis held Rio Grande Valley scoreless over the final 2:23 of the fourth quarter and scored six points from the free throw line over that span to improve to 9-6 during the Showcase Cup and defeat the division-leading Vipers (12-4) for the second time in three meetings. On the possession before Lofton Jr.’s block, Romeo Weems rejected Christopher’s fadeaway attempt with 44.2 seconds, preserving a 113-113 tie.

The Hustle held the Vipers to just 18.6% from 3-point range, limiting Rio Grande Valley to just 8-of-43 shooting from beyond the arc.

Memphis will host the Birmingham Squadron at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, at the Landers Center in its final Showcase Cup game before the NBA G League Showcase in Las Vegas.

Single-game tickets for all regular season Hustle games are on sale now. Tickets start as low as $14 and are available for purchase at Tick etmaster.com or by calling (901) 888-HOOP. Additionally, all-inclusive floor seats and tables are still available for purchase, and the Hustle are accepting $50 deposits for groups of 10-or-more.

For more information on the Memphis Hustle, visit memphishustle.com, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@MemphisHustle) or like Memphis Hustle on Facebook.