OREM, Utah – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men's basketball team fell to the Utah Valley University Wolverines 66-56 on Thursday at the UCCU Center.
Graduate student
Xavier Johnson led the Vaqueros (6-12, 1-5 WAC) with a season-high 21 points, making a season-high five 3-pointers and turning in a 4-for-4 night at the free throw line. Graduate student
Mike Adewunmi scored 11 points with six rebounds. Junior
Justin Johnson finished with 10 points. Graduate student
Marek Nelson tallied a career-high four blocks.
Fardaws Aimaq led the Wolverines (12-6, 3-3 WAC) with 13 points and 14 rebounds.
Tim Fuller scored 13 points with nine rebounds and two blocks.
Le'Tre Darthard also finished with 13 points.
Connor Harding scored 12 points with five rebounds and two blocks.
Xavier Johnson sparked a hot start for the Vaqueros, knocking down three 3-pointers in the first five minutes to open a 13-2 lead. He scored 13 first-half points to aid a 30-29 advantage for the Vaqueros at halftime. The Wolverines went on an 8-0 run to take their first lead at 29-27 with one minute to play, but a big 3-pointer from Adewunmi put UTRGV back on top.
UTRGV scored on over 40 percent of its first-half possessions, but up 32-31 early in the second half, the Wolverines went on an 11-0 run to regain the lead.
Xavier Johnson hit two pairs of free throws to bring the Vaqueros within 41-36 before the Wolverines went on a 10-2 run to push their lead into double digits.
The Vaqueros pulled back to within six twice, including 55-49 on a
Xavier Johnson 3 with 5:36 remaining and 62-56 on a three-point play by junior
Ricky "Doc" Nelson at the 1:29 mark.
UTRGV visits Dixie State on Saturday at 8 p.m. Fans can watch in the United States on
ESPN+ or internationally on the
WAC Digital Network.
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