EDINBURG – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men's basketball team opened the 2018-19 season with a 91-84 victory over Texas A&M-Commerce on Tuesday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
 
Sophomore Greg Bowie II led UTRGV (1-0) with a career-high 19 points and three assists. Senior Terry Winn III scored 18 points with six rebounds and three assists. Junior Lesley Varner II scored 16 points with six rebounds and three steals. Sophomore Javon Levi finished with 12 points, six assists and three steals.
 
Reggie Reid led Texas A&M-Commerce with 23 points and nine rebounds. Willie Rooks finished with 20 points. Trey Conrod scored 11 points with nine rebounds.
 
Texas A&M-Commerce kept the game close early, as the score was within 20-16 after eight and a half minutes. Bowie hit three baskets, including a three, to help UTRGV go on an 11-4 run and take a 31-20 lead.
 
UTRGV extended the lead to 45-32 on a three-pointer by graduate student Tyson Smith at the buzzer leading into halftime and pushed the lead to 19 at 57-38 on back-to-back Varner layups.
 
Texas A&M-Commerce scored the next eight points as part of a 28-10 run to pull within 67-66. Three Varner free throws helped UTRGV to push back.
 
Texas A&M-Commerce pulled within one twice more, including 73-72. Levi and Winn responded by hitting two free throws each to put UTRGV up by five.
 
Then, with the score 80-78, Winn hit two jumpers and two free throws as part of an 11-6 run to end the game.
 
UTRGV is back in action on Friday at 7:30 p.m. against Oklahoma at Bert Ogden Arena. The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive orange out t-shirts. Doors open at 6. A limited number of tickets are still available at GoUTRGV.com/OU.

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