LOGAN, Utah – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros men's basketball fell to the Utah State University Aggies 94-69 in their opening matchup of the Global Sports Hoops Showcase at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
 
The Vaqueros (3-8) got a game-high 20 points apiece from freshman Antonio Green and senior Shaquille Hines. Green also added five assists and three rebounds while Hines grabbed six rebounds and dished out three assists.
 
The Aggies (6-3) had five players in double-figures with Chris Smith leading the way with 18 points while also grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out six assists. Julion Pearre and Jalen Moore added 13 points and Lew Evans and Grayson Moore chipped in 12 each.
 
Green helped the Vaqueros jump out to an early lead after opening the game with a three-pointer. After senior Hines made one of two free throws, Green answered a Utah State bucket with another three-pointer to give UTRGV the 7-2 lead with 18:13 left in the first half.
 
Later in the half, graduate student J.J. Thompson, who finished with eight points, extended the Vaqueros' lead to 11-7 but the Aggies went on a 14-0 run that was capped by a three-pointer by Jalen Moore with 11:59 left in the half.
 
The Aggies extended their lead to 46-26 after Pearre knocked down a three-pointer with 2:59 left in the first half but Hines trimmed down the lead with a pair of three-pointers of his own to send it into halftime with Utah State leading 48-32.
 
Sophomore Dan Kimasa opened the scoring in the second half with a layup but the Aggies went on a 13-2 run to extend their lead 61-36 with 15:54 left in the game. Graduate student Dakota Slaughter got in on the action as he knocked down a three-pointer with 12:24 left in the game to make it 67-46 in favor of the Aggies.
 
Later in the half, Green knocked down one of his six three-pointers with 4:42 left to play and then Hines converted on a layup to cut into the Aggies' lead at 84-65 but Utah State put the game too far out of reach.
 
The Vaqueros will be back in action on Tuesday for the second day of the Global Hoops Showcase when they face North Dakota State with tip-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

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