LUBBOCK – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men's basketball team held a lead at the end of the first half but fell 68-58 after a strong second half by No. 24 Texas Tech University on Saturday at United Supermarkets Arena. 
 
The Vaqueros (4-8) got a game-high 17 points from redshirt freshman Quinton Johnson II as he also led the team with seven rebounds. Graduate student Jordan Jackson added 12 points with three steals.
 
Texas Tech (8-3) had three players in double-figures with Jahmi'us Ramsey leading the way with 15 points while Terrence Shannon Jr. added 14 points and Kevin McCullar chipped in with 10 points.
 
Texas Tech came out in the first and scored the first six points before a three-pointer by Jackson got the Vaqueros on the board. Later in the first half a dunk by senior Isaiah Fontaine got the Vaqueros within 10-9 and then after a jumper by TJ Holyfield, the Vaqueros put together a 13-2 run to take its biggest lead of the game at 22-14 with 9:21 left in the half after Jackson completed a three-point play. 
 
A 12-0 run by Texas Tech gave them the 26-22 lead but a three-pointer by freshman Connor Raines and a layup by redshirt sophomore Sean Rheagave the lead back to the Vaqueros as it took the 27-26 advantage into halftime. 
 
Texas Tech grabbed the lead right out of the gates in the second half as a jumper by Holyfield made it 28-27. A jumper by senior Lesley Varner II tied the game at 30-30 before another jumper by junior Javon Levi once again tied it at 32-32. Texas Tech put together a 13-2 run that was capped by a pair of Davide Moretti free throws as they took the 45-34 lead.
 
Later in the second half, a jumper by Chris Clark gave Texas Tech their biggest lead of the night at 59-43 with 7:09 left to play. The Vaqueros got as close as 10 points but Texas Tech kept them at bay the rest of the way. 
 
UTRGV will return to action on Monday, December 30, when it visits Oklahoma at 6 p.m.

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