ATLANTA, Ga. – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men's basketball team fell to Georgia Tech 78-68 on Wednesday at McCamish Pavilion.
 
Senior Nick Dixon led UTRGV (3-3) with 23 points. Senior Mike Hoffman, sophomore Lesley Varner Jr. and freshman Greg Bowie all finished with eight points. Varner added eight rebounds while Hoffman grabbed six rebounds. Senior McAllen-native Moe McDonald dished out a career-high eight assists.
 
Brandon Alston led Georgia Tech (2-1) with 20 points and six rebounds. Ben Lammers scored 14 points with seven rebounds. Abdoulaye Gueye scored 13 points with seven rebounds and four assists. Curtis Haywood finished with 11 points and six assists.
 
Georgia Tech built a 14-2 lead over the first eight minutes before jumpers by senior Dan Kimasa and freshman Greg Bowie sparked a 14-5 run to bring UTRGV within 19-16 at the 5:49 mark.
 
Georgia Tech pushed its lead back out to eight on a Moses Wright dunk two and a half minutes later, but a Dixon three and a Bowie layup again brought UTRGV within three at 26-23.
 
UTRGV was still within three in the closing seconds of the half after a Dixon layup made the score 30-27, but Lammers hit the final basket before the break and Georgia Tech opened the second half on a 13-2 run to push the lead to 45-29.
 
UTRGV again came back, this time using a 17-7 run to pull within 52-46 on a dunk by junior Johnny Crnogorac with 10:05 remaining.
 
Georgia Tech responded by scoring the next nine points to push the game out of reach.
 
UTRGV returns home on Saturday at 7 p.m. against Grambling State at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
 
Fans donating five nonperishable food items will receive a free ticket. Current UTRGV students, who already receive free admission, will receive free popcorn with their donations.
 
Doors open at 6.

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