EDINBURG, Texas (Interstat) — The Texas-Arlington Mavericks outlasted the Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros 55-50 in overtime Thursday night at UT Pan Am Field House. Texas-Arlington led 24-27 at halftime but needed a second-half rally to force the extra period, where it secured the win. The victory improved the Mavericks to 7-3 this season. The Vaqueros fell to 3-6. National Statistical’s ELO system had projected Texas-Arlington with a 72.90 percent probability to win. The Mavericks next play at Stanford on Dec. 17. Texas-Rio Grande Valley travels to Lamar on Dec. 16.

EDINBURG, Texas (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle that required an extra period to decide, the Texas-Arlington Mavericks outlasted the Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros 55-50 in overtime in a non-conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at UT Pan Am Field House. The game, a low-scoring affair marked by physical play and missed opportunities, saw the Mavericks improve to 7-3 on the season, while the Vaqueros fell to 3-6. Neither team led by more than seven points throughout a contest defined by grit over grace. The Mavericks took a narrow 24-23 lead into halftime, but the Vaqueros responded after the break. A critical sequence late in regulation underscored the game’s tense nature. With Texas-Arlington clinging to a one-point lead in the final minute, UTRGV’s Filip Brankovic was fouled and went to the line with a chance to put the Vaqueros ahead. The 6-foot-6 senior from Serbia made the first free throw to tie the game at 50 but missed the second, sending the game to overtime. The extra period belonged entirely to the Mavericks, who held the Vaqueros scoreless over the final five minutes. UTRGV missed all five of its field goal attempts in overtime and committed two turnovers. Texas-Arlington, while not prolific, did enough at the line, with Marcell McCreary and Marcus Rigsby combining for three free throws to provide the final margin. The Vaqueros’ final possession ended in a desperation three-point attempt by Brankovic that missed as time expired. The most important part of the game was unquestionably the defensive stand by Texas-Arlington in overtime. After battling through a second half where neither team could create separation, the Mavericks locked down completely when it mattered most. UTRGV’s offense, which had found moments of rhythm through players like Marvin McGhee and Zae Blake, was completely stifled. The Vaqueros failed to score on any of their six possessions in the extra period, a testament to the Mavericks’ intensified perimeter pressure and rim protection, led by Cameron Jackson and Raysean Seamster. Rigsby, a guard from Fort Worth, led the Mavericks with 12 points in 41 minutes, adding two assists and a block. His backcourt mate, McCreary, also from Fort Worth, played a game-high 42 minutes and contributed 14 points. Their steady backcourt presence provided crucial stability in a choppy game. Seamster, a 6-foot-8 forward from Portland, Oregon, added 11 points and two blocks, while Jackson, from Pflugerville, chipped in 10 points and two blocks, anchoring the interior defense. For the Vaqueros, McGhee, a guard from Atlanta, came off the bench to score a team-high 10 points, including a key three-pointer late in the second half. Brankovic finished with nine points and three assists, and Blake, from Washington, D.C., also scored nine points in 41 minutes. Koree Cotton of Miami played 40 minutes, contributing seven points, two blocks, and relentless defensive effort. The game was a departure from recent performances for both teams. Texas-Arlington entered having allowed 83 points in a loss at Arkansas State, while UTRGV was coming off a lower-scoring 63-50 win over Austin Peay. The defensive intensity from that Vaqueros performance carried over, but they ultimately could not generate enough offense to secure a second straight victory. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Texas-Arlington was projected with a 72.9% probability to win. The Mavericks validated that forecast, but in a far more arduous fashion than anticipated. Texas-Arlington looks ahead to a road test at Stanford on Dec. 17. Texas-Rio Grande Valley travels to face Lamar on Dec. 16.

EDINBURG, Texas (Interstat) — A surging Texas-Arlington men’s basketball team looks to rebound from its most lopsided loss of the season when it visits Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Thursday night at UT Pan Am Field House. The Mavericks (6-3) had a five-game winning streak snapped in an 83-63 road defeat at Arkansas State on Dec. 2. UTA will have had nine days off to prepare for the Vaqueros (3-5). UT Arlington has been led by guard Marcell McCreary, who is averaging 14.8 points over his last six games. He scored 20 points in a narrow road win at Weber State on Nov. 22 and added 16 in the loss to Arkansas State. Texas-Rio Grande Valley is coming off its best performance of the season, a 63-50 home victory over Austin Peay on Sunday. Guard Koree Cotton powered that win with 22 points, three assists and three blocks. Cotton is averaging 16.3 points over his last three contests. The Mavericks have shown resilience on the road this season, posting notable wins at Evansville and Weber State. Their offense, which put up 117 points in a season-opening rout of Arlington Baptist, will test a UTRGV defense that has allowed an average of 73.4 points. The Vaqueros have struggled against higher-caliber competition, with losses to Baylor, Illinois and Missouri State, but their defense stifled Austin Peay, holding the Governors to 32.8% shooting. This non-conference matchup serves as a final tune-up before both teams dive into their respective league slates in January. UTA begins Western Athletic Conference play on Jan. 1, while UTRGV starts Southland Conference action on Dec. 31. After Thursday, Texas-Arlington travels to face Stanford on Dec. 17. Texas-Rio Grande Valley visits Lamar on Dec. 16.