Abigail Ollave/THE RIDER
The UTRGV Men’s Basketball Team lost to Abilene Christian University at home tonight, 87-89, setting their Western Athletic Conference record at 2-11 and 6-18 overall.
The Wildcat’s record is now 4-9 in conference and 9-15 overall.
The Vaqueros lost their previous match against the Wildcats by two points in an overtime away game on Jan. 6.
The first quarter started off slow for the Vaqueros as they fell behind Abilene 12-5.
Wildcat senior guard Hunter Jack Madden scored the first points of the game with a layup in the first five seconds of the game.
The Vaqueros brought back a fight and managed to take a short lead, but ultimately fell behind again ending the first half 37-31.
Junior guard Elijah Elliot started off the second half with a 3-pointer, bringing some momentum back to the Vaqueros.
UTRGV regained a small lead three minutes into the second half and maintained it until midway through the last half, when the Wildcats went on a scoring streak and put up a 14-point lead.
With less than two minutes left, the Vaqueros made a push and shrunk the lead to 4 points, but that wasn’t enough as Abilene took home the match, 87-79.
Leading UTRGV was senior forward Daylen Williams with a career high of 24 points, four assists and six rebounds.
Elliot followed Williams by putting up 22 points, six assists and two steals.
Abigail Ollave/THE RIDER
Head coach Matt Figger said the Vaqueros’ defense wasn’t up to par.
“Defense was awful, non-existent,” Figger said. “… We weren’t very good defensively.”
He said that with two wins in conference so far, the team needs heart, commitment and believing in each other.
“It all comes down to a guy’s character, that’s all,” Figger said. “Character, character, heart, toughness, resiliency … whatever analogy you want to use, that’s all it boils down to.”
Junior guard Hasan Abdul-Hakim brought in eight points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Figger said he did not expect Adbul-Hakim to be available to play since his injury in January.
“I don’t know if this is a one-game deal,” he said. “… I don’t know what his foot is going to feel like tomorrow. I give him credit. He wanted to try to step up through the injury. … He decided he wanted to try helping the team.”
Leading the Wildcats was Madden with 27 points, followed by junior guard Ali Abdou Dibba with 16 points.
During halftime, the UTRGV Scholars Class of 2028 were recognized. The future Vaqueros received scholarships ranging from $20,000 to $32,000.
Next up for the Vaqueros is a home game against the University of Texas at Arlington at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The Vaqueros have seven games left until the start of the WAC Tournament on March 13.
Wildcat junior guard Ali Abdou Dibba attempts to make a 2-pointer against Vaqueros sophomore forward Saliou Seye (left) and junior guard Sherman Brashear during tonight’s game at the UTRGV Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus. Abigail Ollave/THE RIDER
