The UTRGV Men’s Basketball Team lost its third game in a row, 79-76, against the Redhawks of Seattle University Saturday night in the Fieldhouse.
“We got to get better all around,” Head Coach Lew Hill said. “We got to get better defense, we got to get better at executing the game plan at the beginning.”
SU center Aaron Menzies opened the score with a field goal. UTRGV forward Dan Kimasa was able to tie the game in less than two minutes thanks to an assist from guard Xavier McDaniel Jr., but SU kept the lead after that for the remaining of the first half.
A good defense of the three-point line during the second half enabled the Vaqueros to keep a close score with SU. Thanks to that and a fast offense, they took the lead 49-46 at the 12:13 mark during the second half with a 3-pointer from guard Greg Bowie.
Their steady plan of attack allowed the Vaqueros to stay on the lead with five minutes to go until Redhawk guard/forward Josh Hearlihy scored a 3-pointer with the assistance of SU player No. 2, guard Jordan Hill.
With less than 50 seconds to end the game, SU still had the lead, but guard Lew Stallworth raised the hope at home with a 3-pointer, putting UTRGV at the head of the game at 71-69, but Seattle quickly answered and 7-foot-3-inch Menzies effortlessly tied the score 71-71 with a layup.
The game was forced into a five-minute overtime that was well received by the Vaqueros, for it started in a good note.
Nick Dixon gave UTRGV the lead with a 3-pointer assisted by Stallworth and put the game 74-71.
It didn’t take long for the Redhawks to tie and then take the lead, but Vaquero forward Terry Winn took control of the ball and tied the game once again at 76-76.
Regardless of their efforts, the Vaqueros fell short and the Redhawks took the win, 79-76.
“We got to come out ready to play and execute right from the start instead of always having to battle uphill,” Hill said.
The UTRGV Men’s Basketball Team will face Chicago State University at 2 p.m. next Saturday in Chicago.
