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EDINBURG – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men's basketball team knocked off second place Grand Canyon University (GCU) 83-81 on Thursday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
 
This was UTRGV's (13-12, 4-4 WAC) first victory over GCU (17-8, 6-3 WAC) since Jan. 24, 2015, snapping a six-game skid.
 
Senior Nick Dixon led UTRGV with 22 points while hitting a trio of three-pointers. Sophomore Xavier McDaniel Jr. scored 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-3 from behind the arc, with five rebounds.
 
UTRGV finished 7-for-16 (.438) from behind the arc against a GCU team that was holding opponents to .273 shooting from downtown entering the game. UTRGV is just the third team to hit seven three-pointers against GCU this season.
 
Alessandro Lever led GCU with 22 points while going 14-of-16 from the line. Casey Benson scored 17 points with 10 rebounds and six assists. Oscar Frayer scored 11 points with four steals. Keonta Vernon scored 11 points.
 
UTRGV and GCU exchanged baskets over the first five minutes, but with the score tied at 11, McDaniel hit a three to spark a 14-4 run to put UTRGV up 25-15.
 
GCU responded with a 15-0 run to take the lead before McDaniel scored nine points to power a 19-8 run that saw UTRGV go up 44-38 early in the second half.
 
GCU scored the next seven points as part of a 13-3 run to take a 51-47 lead. Then, with 15:44 remaining, Dixon sunk a pair of free throws to bring UTRGV within two and the game was separated by no more than three points the rest of the way.
 
GCU led by as much as three on three occasions, including 76-73 with 2:21 to go.
 
McDaniel followed with a layup and then Dixon made two free throws to put UTRGV on top.
 
Lever converted a three-point play to give GCU a 79-77 lead at the 1:09 mark before McDaniel nailed a three to give UTRGV the lead for good.
 
UTRGV looks to pack the house on Saturday at 7 p.m. against defending WAC Champion CSU Bakersfield. The first 200 fans in attendance receive V Nation t-shirts. Doors open at 6.
 
UTRGV Athletics' corporate partners are offering buy one, get one free general admission ticket vouchers at select sponsor locations in Edinburg, including:
 
Jimmy John's
1603 W. University Dr.
 
Raising Cane's
718 W. University Dr.
 
Golden Chick
401 Sugar Rd.
 
University Draft House
2405 W. University Dr.,
 
TownePlace Suites by Marriott
502 W. Trenton Rd.
 
IBC Bank
2205 W. University Dr.
 
Wells Fargo
1628 W. University Dr.
 
Navy Army Community Credit Union
3010 S. McColl Rd.
 
Hacienda Ford
3010 W. University Dr.

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