DES MOINES, Iowa (Interstat) — In a frantic finish befitting their recent history, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers edged the Iowa Wolves 117-115 in a G League contest Sunday at Wells Fargo Arena, avenging a narrow loss from earlier this season.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the final five seconds. Holding a 115-112 lead, the Vipers’ Daishen Nix missed his second free throw attempt with five seconds remaining. Iowa’s Donte Ingram secured the rebound, and the Wolves called timeout to advance the ball.

Out of the timeout, Ingram found Nate Santos open on the left wing, and Santos drained a 26-foot 3-pointer to tie the game at 115 with two seconds left. The Vipers immediately used a timeout.

On the ensuing inbounds play, Rio Grande Valley’s Jonathan Pierre committed a turnover, throwing the ball out of bounds. Iowa called another timeout with one second left, setting up a final shot. Zyon Pullin’s desperation heave at the buzzer missed, but the Wolves were granted an offensive rebound as time expired, though no further shot was possible.

The dramatic ending capped a game where the Wolves led for much of the first half, powered by a strong start. Iowa scored 35 points in the opening quarter and led 65-59 at halftime. The Vipers chipped away in the third, outscoring Iowa 28-23 to cut the deficit to one point heading into the final period.

Rio Grande Valley then seized control with a 12-2 run to open the fourth quarter, building a nine-point lead. The Wolves clawed back, setting the stage for the tense final moments where free throws and last-second heroics decided the outcome.

The victory improved Rio Grande Valley’s record to 21-14, while Iowa fell to 21-16. The teams had met just under a month prior, on Jan. 26, with Iowa winning 136-129.

Key performances for Iowa included Donte Ingram, who facilitated the final play, and Enrique Freeman, who provided interior presence. For the Vipers, Tristen Newton was a consistent offensive contributor, particularly from the free-throw line in the second half, while the guard combination of Nix and Caleb McConnell made pivotal plays down the stretch.

The game was played at a fast pace with multiple lead changes, reflecting the offensive tendencies of both teams. The Vipers’ ability to execute in the final quarter and withstand Iowa’s last-second three-pointer proved the difference, securing a narrow road victory.