The Santa Cruz Warriors lost for only the second time in Kaiser Permanente Arena in blown out fashion to the visiting Rio Grande Valley Vipers, 131-100.
The Warriors(22-13) were their own worst enemies committing 26 turnovers on the night, 10 of them coming in the first quarter. The Vipers(21-13) used those early turnovers to open the game up with a 18-2 run, they finished the quarter with 41 points(the most the Warriors have given up all season).
"We weren't ready to play," said Warriors head coach Nate Bjorkgren. "They were more aggressive than we were in all areas of the game."
After the first quarter onslaught the Vipers kept a tight grip on the Warriors throats. They executed on every single play and finished the half shooting 50 percent from the field. The Warriors gave up 73 points in the half(the most they've allowed all season).
"There's lot's that I can take away that we can learn from. Other than that there were some short times during that game that we played how I really wanted us to play, but you have to give them an awful lot of credit." Said Bjorkgren.
Travis Leslie had a solid night and finished with 29 points and six rebounds. Dan Nwaelele had 19 points on the night. Hilton Armstrong tallied a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Andrew Goudelock, the man Leslie replaced in the D-League All-Star game, had a huge night finishing with 33 points and eight assists. Glen Rice Jr. finished with 17 on the night. Tyler Honeycutt also was in double figures with 13 points. Hassan Whiteside had a great game in the paint as he finished with six blocks.
The loss drops the Warriors back to two games behind the Bakersfield Jam in the West Division. The Warriors will have a rematch against the Vipers tomorrow night and it will be their fifth game of their eight game home stand.
