PHOENIX, Ariz. – Down 11 with 14 minutes remaining, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men's basketball team rallied back to stun Grand Canyon University (GCU), which entered the night tied for first in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), 72-69 on Thursday at GCU Arena.
 
This was UTRGV's (13-12, 5-4 WAC) first win at GCU (14-8, 7-2 WAC) in six tries. UTRGV is the first team to beat GCU at GCU Arena this season, snapping a 16-game winning streak dating back to Jan. 11, 2018.
 
Graduate student Tyson Smith led UTRGV with a career-high tying 21 points. Senior Terry Winn III scored 15 points. Sophomore Javon Levi scored 12 points with five rebounds, three assists and four steals. Junior Jordan Jackson scored nine points with five rebounds. Junior Lesley Varner II scored eight points with 10 rebounds.
 
Damari Milstead led GCU with 14 points. Carlos Johnson scored 13 points. Michael Finke finished with 10 points.
 
GCU led by as much as 11 twice, including 50-39 with 13:28 to go.
 
Then, with the score 54-44, Smith used a three, a jumper and a three-point play to power an 18-6 run to give UTRGV a 62-60 lead with 4:15 remaining.
 
Milstead tied the game with a layup, but Smith hit four free throws restore UTRGV's lead.
 
GCU tied the game at 67 with 45 seconds remaining on a Johnson three-point play. Winn made a layup 15 seconds later to give UTRGV the lead.
 
After a GCU travel, Smith hit two free throws. Milstead responded with a jumper. Jackson hit a free throw to make it a three-point game and then Milstead missed a desperation three to end the game.
 
GCU led 15-8 on an early Milstead three before four Levi layups and a pair of Varner baskets allowed UTRGV to score 12-straight points to take a 20-15 lead.
 
GCU scored the next seven points as part of an 11-3 run to regain the lead, but Winn made two layups and a free throw to put UTRGV up 28-26. Winn also used free throws to tie the game at 30 before GCU took a 32-30 lead into the break.
 
UTRGV is back in action on Saturday at 9 p.m. at CSU Bakersfield.

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