EDINBURG, Texas (Interstat) — The Austin Spurs used a dominant first quarter to build a cushion and then held off a persistent Rio Grande Valley Vipers squad for a 94-86 victory in a G League contest Tuesday night at Bert Ogden Arena.

The most critical phase of the game was its opening minutes, as Austin established an early lead it would never relinquish. The Spurs raced out to a 22-16 advantage after the first quarter, fueled by efficient ball movement and disruptive defense. The tone was set early when Harrison Ingram connected on a 25-foot three-pointer just over two minutes into the game, followed shortly by a Kyle Mangas three-pointer and a driving layup from Emanuel Miller. The Spurs’ defense forced the Vipers into six turnovers in the period, including two offensive fouls on center Omer Yurtseven, stifling Rio Grande Valley’s rhythm.

Austin expanded its lead in the second quarter, outscoring the Vipers 27-26 to take a 49-42 advantage into halftime. The Spurs’ offense continued to find success from beyond the arc, while the Vipers relied on a burst from Jonathan Pierre, who hit a trio of three-pointers in the first half to keep the margin manageable.

The third quarter saw the teams trade baskets, with Austin maintaining its seven-point lead by matching Rio Grande Valley’s 22-point output. The Vipers made several pushes, often led by Daishen Nix and Tristen Newton, but each time the Spurs answered. A key sequence came late in the third when Elfrid Payton converted a layup, drew a technical foul on the Vipers, and then found Tre King for a layup to help Austin stay in front 73-64 heading to the final period.

Rio Grande Valley made its most serious run in the fourth quarter, closing the gap to just four points on multiple occasions. A three-pointer from Tristen Newton with 6:52 remaining cut the Austin lead to 79-75, prompting a Spurs timeout. Out of the stoppage, Austin executed effectively, getting consecutive layups from Emanuel Miller and Adam Flagler to push the lead back to eight. The Vipers would get no closer than six points the rest of the way, as the Spurs defense tightened, forcing several missed three-point attempts in the final two minutes to secure the win.

The victory improved Austin’s season record to 30 wins and 12 losses, while Rio Grande Valley fell to 25-17. The game was a reversal of the teams’ last meeting on Feb. 7, which the Vipers won by a single point.

Austin next hosts the Texas Legends on Thursday. Rio Grande Valley prepares for a back-to-back home set against the Salt Lake City Stars starting Friday.