IRVINE, Calif. – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men's basketball team fell to UC Irvine 85-74 on Thursday at the Bren Events Center.
 
Graduate student Tyson Smith led UTRGV (8-8) with a career-high tying 16 points, a season-high five rebounds, three assists and a career-high tying three steals. Sophomore Greg Bowie II scored 13 points with four rebounds. Graduate student Solomon Hainna scored nine points with a season-high tying five rebounds, a career-high tying two assists and a career-high tying three steals. Senior Terry Winn III finished with nine points and four rebounds.
 
Max Hazzard led UC Irvine (12-4) with 23 points. Evan Leonard scored 14 points. Robert Cartwright scored 11 points with four assists. Elston Jones scored 10 points with 11 rebounds and three blocks.
 
UC Irvine jumped out to a 14-1 lead over the opening eight minutes. Back-to-back baskets by Smith and one by freshman Uche Dibiamaka brought UTRGV within 14-7. That was the start of UTRGV hitting seven out of nine shots, but UC Irvine went 5-for-7 during the same stretch, so UTRGV only outscored UC Irvine 15-14 to pull within 28-16.
 
UC Irvine extended its lead to 57-29 seven and a half minutes into the second half. Bowie hit two three-pointers and a jumper to power a 15-4 run and bring UTRGV within 61-44 two minutes later.
 
UTRGV climbed to within 75-60 on a Bowie three with 6:26 remaining before UCI scored the next five points to go up 20.
 
UTRGV closed the game on a 14-5 run, thanks in-part to a three and three free throws by Smith.
 
UTRGV opens Western Athletic Conference play on Saturday at 7 p.m. at California Baptist University.

Support UTRGV Men's Basketball | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube