OREM, Utah – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men's basketball team fell to the Utah Valley University Wolverines 73-64 on Saturday at the UCCU Center.
 
Junior Uche Dibiamaka led the Vaqueros (9-6, 2-2 WAC) with a career-high 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Senior Javon Levi scored 15 points with six assists and one steal. Senior Anthony Bratton scored 14 points with five rebounds. Junior Marek Nelson finished with 10 points.
 
Fardaws Aimaq led the Wolverines (10-9, 8-3 WAC) with 16 points and 16 rebounds. Evan Cole scored 14 points with 11 rebounds. Jamison Overton finished with 14 points.
 
Levi started the game with a steal and then went coast-to-coast for a layup. The Wolverines responded with a 17-6 run to take the lead.
 
Dibiamaka scored the Vaqueros' next nine points to bring the Vaqueros to within 23-17.
 
The Wolverines pushed their lead to 27-19, but the Vaqueros responded with an 8-3 run to climb to within 30-27.
 
The Wolverines scored the final eight points of the half to go up 38-27.
 
The Wolverines took their largest lead at 54-37 with 12:48 remaining. That's when Nelson and Levi hit three-pointers, Bratton made a layup and then Levi hit another three to power an 11-0 run, making the score 54-48.
 
Overton answered with a three-pointer, two free throws and two layups to push the Wolverines' lead back into double-figures at 61-48.
 
The Vaqueros got the deficit under 10 three more time when a Dibiamaka three made the score 65-56 with 4:59 remaining, a three by junior LaQuan Butler made the score 68-59 with 3:07 to go, and a three-point play by Levi made the score 73-64 with 18 seconds left.
 
UTRGV visits New Mexico State on Tuesday at 12 p.m. at UTEP's Haskins Center. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Arizona, Comcast New Mexico and The CW Las Cruces/El Paso. Fans can also watch for free online at WACDigitalNetwork.com.

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