Senior forward Justin Johnson closes his eyes as the game is tied 65-65 before a last second shot made by the Sam Houston State University Bearkats during tonight’s game in the UTRGV Fieldhouse. The Bearkats defeated the Vaqueros 65-67. RAMIRO CASTRO JR./THE RIDER PHOTOS
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Men’s Basketball Team put up a hard fight, but ultimately lost 65-67 against Sam Houston State University tonight in the UTRGV Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus, making its new record 11-12 overall, 2-8 conference. The Bearkats have a record of 7-3 in conference and 17-5 overall.
The first half set the tone for the rest of the game with both teams trading control of the ball and only leading each other by a few points.
Senior forward Justin Johnson led the Vaqueros with 22 points, two assists and two rebounds.
Johnson scored the game-tying three pointer with about 30 seconds left in the second half, making the score 65-65.
After the Bearkats got the rebound, Vaquero graduate forward Dima Zdor blocked Bearkat senior guard Qua Grant’s layup with about four seconds left in the game.
Zdor put up eight points and two rebounds while playing almost 26 minutes during the game.
Grant led his team with 16 points, three assists and one rebound.
UTRGV head coach Matt Figger said he thought both teams really wanted to win the game.
“They just wanted to win more,” Figger said. “Not that we didn’t, they just made the plays and the effort. … Their approach to winning, their diligence of winning, their effort for winning, their unselfishness to want to win, that’s what got them the win.”
He said they made some effort plays, by blocking the shot.
Junior forward Ahren Freeman scored four points, two assists and six rebounds during his 21 minute playtime.
Asked what Figger thought about moral victories or close games, he replied he is not into that.
“Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades,” Figger said. “It’s a loss. Got to get better is all I can tell you.”
He said all losses are equal, and the goal is to win. Figger said he wants to establish a winning culture.
Asked about freshman guard Adante’ Holiman, Figger replied he was missed during the eight games he was out.
“[Holiman’s] five-threes gave us momentum, gave us a chance,” he said.
Holiman finished the game with a career-high 15 points, four assists and one rebound.
Asked his thoughts on the last two minutes of the game, Figger replied that Johnson stepped up and made some big plays, with the team riding that momentum.
“[Sam Houston] missed two free throws,” he said. “We had an opportunity. … I thought we defended the possession pretty well.”
Bearkat sophomore forward Cameron Huefner followed Grant with 13 points and one rebound.
Figger said the team is trying, but believes some of the players lack a sense of urgency when coming from the bench.
Asked about the upcoming game against Tarleton State University at 4 p.m. Saturday in Stephenville, Texas, he said they are a “fist fight” team since they have not lost a home game yet.
“Got to get ready for those guys,” he said. “Got to shake it off and go up there and try to do something no other team has done this year, and that’s win at Tarleton.”
The Vaqueros will also compete against The University of Texas at Arlington at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 9 in the UTRGV Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus.
