STILLWATER, Okla. – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men's basketball team fell 102-83 to Oklahoma State University at Gallagher-Iba Arena on Friday.
 
Sophomore Xavier McDaniel Jr. led UTRGV (6-8) with 17 points and five rebounds. Senior Nick Dixon added 14 points and three assists while redshirt junior Johnny Crnogorac added a career-high 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting.
 
Jeffrey Carroll led Oklahoma State (10-2) with 22 points while grabbing four rebounds. Kendall Smith added 18 points, Tavarius Shine chippe3d in 12 points, and Mitchell Solomon scored 11 pints with eight rebounds.
 
UTRGV got back-to-back buckets from senior Dan Kimasa and freshman Greg Bowie to grab the early 4-3 lead in the opening minutes. Oklahoma State got a three-point play from Carroll to regain the lead and then both teams went back and forth before senior Mike Hoffman knocked down a three-pointer to give UTRGV the 16-15 lead with 11:28 left to play in the half.
 
Oklahoma State quickly answered with a 15-2 run to take the 30-18 lead, which they would not give back the rest of the way. UTRGV scored eight points in the final minute of the half that was capped by a three pointer and a free throw by Dixon as Oklahoma State took the 53-34 lead into half time.
 
Oklahoma State opened the second half with seven straight points before Kimasa hit a fast break layup to open up UTRGV's scoring. Later in the half, Crnogorac scored eight straight points for UTRGV, who matched Oklahoma State with 49 points in the second half, but it wasn't enough as Oklahoma State kept UTRGV at bay. 
 
UTRGV will be back in action on December 30 when they return home to host Hampton University at 7 p.m. at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. Doors open at 6 p.m.

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