EDINBURG (VIPERS) - The Rio Grande Valley Vipers (22-12) fall short to the Agua Caliente Clippers (16-15), 111-116. 

The first quarter of play resulted in a slight lead for the Vipers, 31-22. Diamond Stone collected nine points, three rebounds while guard Michael Frazier tallied six points, two rebounds. Clippers two-way player, Angel Delgado, had four points and six rebounds in the period. 

Dakarai Tucker quickly made his way into the offensive conversation, scoring 12 points before heading to the locker room for the break. Frazier added on 10 points for the Vipers at the half. RGV owned a 63-60 lead at the midway point. For Agua Caliente, Manu Lecomte racked up 16 points, three assists to keep the Clippers within reach. Defensively, Delgado grabbed six rebounds in an effort to stop the Vipers attack. Desi Rodriguez was efficient as well with his 11 points and four rebounds. 

RGV traded blows with the Clippers throughout the entire third quarter. After putting up just eight points in the first half, Jamel Artis exploded offensively to tally 23 points for Agua Caliente at the end of the third which helped the Clippers lift past the Vipers 89-93 at the end of the period. 

The intensity did not let up in the final period of play, which resulted in a very tight ending. Once the final buzzer hit, the Clippers were on top 111-116 to hand the Vipers their second straight loss. Tucker ended the night with 23 points, three rebounds and two steals. In his third game for RGV, newcomer Chris McCullough tallied 15 points and 10 rebounds in 13 minutes of action. Stone was the second highest scorer for the Vipers with 18 points, adding on seven rebounds. 

Lecomte led the game with a 26-point performance. Delgado had a big night as well as he closed out with 23 points, 17 rebounds which locked in the double-double. Finally, Artis was the other big man on the offensive end as he tallied 25 total points for the Clippers. 

The Vipers return to action at Bert Ogden Arena on Tuesday, February 5 taking on Northern Arizona Suns. Tipoff will be at 7:00 p.m.