Iowa Energy won their first NBA Development League Championship with a 119-111 victory against Rio Grande Valley Vipers in Game 3 of the best of three Finals Friday at Wells Fargo Arena. After going down 102-93, Jerel McNeal and Richard Roby hit back-to-back baskets to bring the Vipers (5-3) within five. The Vipers got as close as 105-101 with 4:00 remaining on a McNeal lay-up, but the Energy (6-2) maintained the lead the rest of the way. The Vipers were outscored 38-to-23 in the quarter. The game featured seven lead changes in the first quarter, with neither team leading by more than two until the final minutes. The Vipers trailed 26-25 after Curtis Stinson hit a free throw with 3:14 remaining. Terrel Harris scored seven points as the Vipers followed with a 14-2 run to push their lead out to 39-28 with 1:00 remaining. Stefhon Hannah and Moses Ehambe hit back-to-back three-pointers in the final 22 seconds to bring the Energy back within five at 39-34.
Hannah led the Energy with 31 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. Ehambe, You First's client, scored 15 points, two rebounds and one assists.