Texas Border Business
CORPUS CHRISTI – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men’s basketball team fell to the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders 63-55 as part of the South Texas Showdown, presented by Navy Army Community Credit Union, on Sunday at the American Bank Center.
UTRGV’s lead in the showdown standings is now 13-9.
Graduate student Jordan Jackson led the Vaqueros (1-4) with 13 points. Junior Chris Freeman scored nine points. Freshman Quinton Johnson II finished with eight points.
Jashawn Talton led the Islanders (1-4) with 23 points and nine rebounds. Myles Smith scored 15 points with eight rebounds. Elijah Schmidt finished with 11 points, nine rebounds, three steals, and a block.
The Vaqueros led 9-7 in the opening minutes before an 8-0 run by the Islanders made the score 15-9. The Vaqueros tied the game at 15 on a Freeman three-point play and again at 18 on a three by freshman Connor Raines.
The Islanders scored 12 of the next 16 points to take the lead before the Vaqueros scored seven-straight points, capped by a jumper by junior Anthony Bratton, to pull within 30-29 in the final minute of the first half.
The Vaqueros tied the game at 42 on a Johnson three with 8:40 remaining, but the Islanders responded with a 12-4 run to take a 54-46 lead five minutes later.
The Vaqueros got as close as four three times, including 59-55 on a Jackson free throw with 24 seconds remaining.
UTRGV kicks off a four-game homestand on Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. against Texas A&M International at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. It’s Diabetes Awareness Night. UTRGV is partnering with the Rio Grande Valley Diabetes Association to raise awareness about diabetes in the RGV by offering resources and information to fans while promoting a healthy lifestyle. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive free t-shirts that promote being united in the fight against diabetes. Additionally, fans donating five non-perishable food items to help stock the UTRGV Student Food Pantry will receive a complimentary ticket with the purchase of a ticket of equal or greater value. Current UTRGV students get free general admission with a valid UTRGV student ID. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at UTRGVTickets.com. Fans purchasing their tickets online prior to game day can save up to $2 per ticket. Doors open at 6.
The next event of the South Texas Showdown, presented by Navy Army Community Credit Union, is on Nov. 23 when women’s basketball visits Corpus Christi at 2 p.m.
 Vaqueros men's basketball team fell to the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders 63-55 as part of the South Texas Showdown, presented by Navy Army Community Credit Union, on Sunday at the American Bank Center.){kind=link}