The UTRGV Men’s Basketball Team lost 94-85 tonight in the second round game of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament against Texas Southern University. The Vaqueros reached an overall record of 20-17.
TSU’s Tigers started the first half by taking the lead 2-0 at the 19:26 mark. UTRGV responded with a layup made by junior guard Jordan Jackson. After that, junior forward Lesley Varner III made another layup for the Vaqueros, which increased their lead, 4-2.
UTRGV continued controlling the game when it made an 11-4 run. Graduate guard Tyson Smith made a layup, as did Varner, who also hit a 3-pointer, which led the Vaqueros to finish the first half to 42-36.
In the second half, the Tigers took the lead again when graduate forward Jeremy Combs hit a layup, which put the score at 44-43 at the 18:47 mark.
The Vaqueros answered with a 17-6 run. Sophomore Javon Levi posted a layup, Smith hit two free throws and a layup and Jackson also hit a couple of free throws, giving UTRGV the lead again 60-50.
But, the Tigers scored 14 points and regained the lead at 64-63.
Halfway through the second half, both teams exchanged baskets before the Vaqueros came back again to take the lead 71-68, after senior forward Terry Winn III scored two layups and Levi hit one free throw.
In the last minutes, TSU scored eight out of 17 points, which led the Tigers to retake the lead and finish the game 94-85 over the Vaqueros.
Head Coach Lew Hill thanked the fans who were supporting the team during this postseason tournament, which began last Wednesday.
“I would like to thank the crowd; the crowd was tremendous,” Hill said. “Appreciate all [of] them for coming out, all over the Valley, the students, the faculty and whole Valley to support this team.”
Tonight’s game was the last for the Vaqueros’ 2018-19 season. They will return to the court in Fall 2019 with the common goal to make their first NCAA appearance.
