OREM, Utah – Junior Nick Dixon scored a career-high 41 points, but The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men's basketball team fell to Utah Valley University (UVU) 92-81 on Thursday at the UCCU Center.
 
Dixon's scoring output was the second-highest in the WAC this season and it all came on two-pointers and free throws as he went a career-high 15-for-26 from the field and a career-high tying 11-for-15 from the line. Dixon also grabbed seven rebounds with two assists and a career-high tying four steals
 
Sophomore Antonio Green also reached double-figures for UTRGV (10-13, 2-4 WAC), scoring 18 points while hitting two three-pointers to raise his NCAA-leading total to 95.
 
Conner Toolson and Kenneth Ogbe led UVU (7-16, 2-4 WAC) with 17 points each. Brandon Randolph scored 15 points with seven rebounds. Jordan Poydras scored 12 points with seven assists. Zach Nelson also scored 21 points.
 
UVU scored the first seven points of the game en route to a 9-1 lead. UVU extended its lead to 10 at 19-9 on a Toolson three and again at 21-11 on a Toolson layup before sophomore Lew Stallworth hit two free thrrows and a layup to help UTRGV pull within 21-17.
 
UVU pushed its lead back to seven on a Randolph three that made it 28-21, but Dixon made three-straight baskets to bring UTRGV within one at the 6:19 mark.
 
UTRGV was as close as four in the second half at 43-39 on a Dixon layup in the opening minute.
 
UVU extended its lead to 12 at 62-50 on an Ogbe three at the 12-minute mark, and still led by 11 a minute and a half later. That's when Green made a layup and two free throws to spark a 10-4 run to bring UTRGV within 70-65.
 
The game was still close with 4:54 remaining, as Green made a pair of free throws to make it 76-70, but an Ogbe threee sparked an 8-0 run as UVU pushed the game out of reach.
 
UTRGV is back in action on Saturday at 9 p.m. at Seattle U.

Support UTRGV Men's Basketball | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube