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EDINBURG – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men's basketball team recorded its program record sixth Western Athletic Conference (WAC) victory by beating Chicago State University (CSU) 83-75 on Saturday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
 
UTRGV (15-15, 6-7 WAC) last won six conference games in the Sun Belt Conference in 1995-96. UTRGV last won more conference contests in 1994-95 with a program record 10 as part of the Sun Belt.
 
Senior Nick Dixon led UTRGV with 23 points. Junior Lew Stallworth scored 14 points. Freshman Javon Levi scored 10 points with four rebounds and a career-high nine assists. Sophomore Lesley Varner Jr. scored 10 points with four rebounds and three assists. Junior Terry Winn grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds.
 
Glen Burns led CSU (2-27, 0-12 WAC) 21 points with 12 rebounds, six assists and four steals. Cameron Bowles scored 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting and three blocks. Fred Sims Jr. scored 19 points with six rebounds. Jelani Pruitt scored 10 points with nine rebounds.
 
Dixon hit a layup and three free throws to give UTRGV a quick 5-0 lead before CSU came back to tie the game at 7 on a Bowles jumper.
 
After a Levi jumper restored UTRGV's lead, CSU scored six-straight points, capped by a Bowles layup, to go up 13-9.
 
Chicago State led by as much as five at 23-18 with 6:18 remaining in the first half.
 
Chicago State still led by four at 27-23 at the 3:59 mark before UTRGV went on a 10-0 run on one basket and eight free throws to close the half up 33-27.
 
A layup by freshman Greg Bowie and a three-point play by Dixon allowed UTRGV to score the first five points of the second half as part of a 19-7 run that saw UTRGV go up 52-34.
 
CSU responded by hitting seven of its next eight shots, including a trio of three-pointers, to pull within 58-53 on a Montana Byrd three with 10:09 remaining.
 
CSU was still within five at 60-55 29 seconds later, but Stallworth hit a three and converted a three-point play to spark a 10-0 run to put UTRGV up 15.
 
CSU answered with a 17-6 run to climb within 76-72 with 44.6 seconds left, but Dixon, Levi and Stallworth combined to hit seven free throws to put the game on ice.
 
UTRGV closes out the regular season on Saturday at 7 p.m. against New Mexico State for Youth Night, presented by Jason's Deli. Children 13 and under will receive free admission with the purchase of an adult ticket. The first 150 kids in attendance will receive a UTRGV spirit pack that includes a drawstring backpack, wristband, sticker, temporary tattoo, and pom pom. Additionally, UTRGV's senior class will be honored prior to the game. Doors open at 6.

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