Men’s Basketball Battles Back in Second Half to Defeat Incarnate Word

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men’s basketball team battled back after being down 12 points in the second half to defeat the University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals 85-78 on Monday at McDermott Center.

The Vaqueros (12-7, 4-4 SLC) had five players score in double-figures while posting a season-best 69.8% (37-53) from the floor. Senior Kwo Agwa led the way with a career-high 23 points and four blocks. Senior Cliff Davis scored 16 points with three steals and two blocks. Redshirt junior Howie Fleming Jr. scored 17 points with fifth year K.T. Raimey scoring 13 points and junior Trey Miller scoring 12 points with six assists.

Davion Bailey led the Cardinals (9-10, 2-6 SLC) with a game-high 28 points with Jayden Anderson adding 18 points of his own. Dylan Hayman scored 14 points and Jordan Pyke chipped in with 11 points.

The Vaqueros found themselves trailing 56-44 with 12:32 left to play but a Fleming Jr. layup kick started a 16-5 run that saw them go 7-of-7 from the floor as they got within 61-60 after a Davis three-pointer. Later, Raimey knocked down a couple of free throws that gave the Vaqueros their first lead since the 4:54 mark in the first half.

A three-point play by UIW’s Marcus Glover gave the Cardinals their final lead of the night at 66-64 but Agwa knocked down a couple of buckets that started an 11-4 UTRGV run that gave them the 75-70 lead with 2:23 left to play.

After the Cardinals got a three-pointer from Hayman that got them within 81-78, Agwa came up with a huge block on their next possession to put the game away.

The Cardinals had control most of the first half but Agwa scored 11 of his 26 while Miller scored his 10 points in the first half to keep the Vaqueros within reach setting up the comeback in the second half.

The Vaqueros will be back in action on Saturday when they host the McNeese Cowboys at 4:30 p.m. at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at GoUTRGV.com/Tickets. Current UTRGV students receive free general admission with their student ID. All fans need to follow the clear bag policy, details of which can be found at GoUTRGV.com/ClearBag. The party starts in Schlotzsky’s Vaquero Village at 5:30 p.m.

Fans unable to attend in person can watch domestically on ESPN+ or internationally via Southland International.