UTRGV MEN’S BASKETBALL FALLS AT (RV) ARIZONA

SPECIAL TO THE ENTERPRISE

TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men’s basketball team fell to the Arizona Wildcats, a team receiving votes in the Preseason AP poll, 104-50 on Friday at the McKale Center.

Junior Ricky “Doc” Nelson led the Vaqueros (1-1) with 14 points with three assists and two steals. Graduate student Mike Adewunmi finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. Junior Justin Johnson scored 10 points with three rebounds and two steals. Freshman Donte Houston Jr. scored his first eight collegiate points.

Azuolas Tubelis led the Wildcats (2-0) with 20 points and nine rebounds. Christian Koloko scored 18 points with 11 rebounds and five blocks. Justin Kier scored 13 points with four assists. Bennedict Mathurin scored 13 points. Oumar Ballo scored 12 points with six rebounds.

The Wildcats jumped out to an 18-2 lead over the first six minutes. Nelson and Adewunmi responded with jumpers to bring the Vaqueros to within 12.

The Wildcats pushed their lead to 35-11 late in the half. Houston responded with a three and a layup to bring the Vaqueros to within 19.

Adewunmi hit a pair of three-pointers early in the second half, and then Johnson added a three-point play, but the Wildcats scored the next six points as part of a 15-1 run to put the game on ice.

UTRGV returns home on Tuesday at 7 p.m. to face Paul Quinn College at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at UTRGVTickets.com. The party starts in Vaquero Village at 5:30 p.m. Those unable to attend the match in person can watch in the United States on ESPN+ or internationally on the WAC Digital Network.

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