Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros Hold Off Lamar Cardinals 70-65 Behind Brankovic's 19 Points

The Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros held off a late surge from the Lamar Cardinals to secure a 70-65 victory at the UTRGV Fieldhouse, improving their record to 15-12. This win marked their fifth in their last six games, with the lone loss coming against Stephen F. Austin, 57-66. Over their last five games, the Vaqueros have been averaging 84.8 points per game, outscoring their opponents by an average of 12 points. In contrast, the Lamar Cardinals, who fell to 12-15, have been struggling, averaging just 68.2 points per game over their last five, and being outscored by an average of 1.4 points. The Cardinals have won just one of their last five games, a 73-54 victory over Southeastern Louisiana.

The first half was a closely contested affair, with the Vaqueros taking a slim 32-30 lead into the break. Filip Brankovic was the standout performer for the Vaqueros, scoring 11 of his 19 points in the first half. The Cardinals' Rob Lee Jr. kept his team in the game, scoring 8 of his 14 points in the first half. The Vaqueros' Koree Cotton also made his presence felt, grabbing 5 of his 7 rebounds in the first half. As the game wore on, the Vaqueros began to pull away, taking a 10-point lead with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game. However, the Cardinals refused to give up, going on a 12-4 run to cut the deficit to just 2 points with 4 minutes left.

The Vaqueros' top performers, including Brankovic and Cotton, made crucial plays late to secure the win. Brankovic hit several big shots, including a key jumper with just over 2 minutes remaining to stretch the Vaqueros' lead to 5 points. Cotton, on the other hand, did the dirty work, grabbing 7 rebounds and making several key defensive plays to limit the Cardinals' scoring opportunities. For the Cardinals, Lee Jr. and Eian Lowe, who scored 13 points, kept their team in the game, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Vaqueros' strong team performance. Lowe, in particular, struggled with his shot, going just 5-14 from the field, but made up for it with his rebounding, grabbing 6 boards.

The Vaqueros' ability to close out the game was a reflection of their recent form, where they have been averaging 84.8 points per game over their last 5 games. In contrast, the Cardinals have been struggling to score, averaging just 68.2 points per game over the same period. The Vaqueros' strong offense, combined with their stout defense, which has been allowing just 72.8 points per game over their last 5, was too much for the Cardinals. The Cardinals, on the other hand, have been struggling on both ends of the floor, being outscored by an average of 1.4 points over their last 5 games.

The CHD Scout prediction of a 74-65 Vaqueros win, with a margin of 8.6 points, was largely correct, with the Vaqueros ultimately winning 70-65. The prediction was accurate because it took into account the Vaqueros' strong recent form, where they have been outscoring their opponents by an average of 12 points over their last 5 games. The prediction also accounted for the Cardinals' struggles, where they have been outscored by an average of 1.4 points over their last 5 games. The Vaqueros' ability to score efficiently, combined with their strong defense, made them a strong favorite to win this game. The Cardinals' inability to score consistently, particularly in the first half, where they scored just 30 points, also contributed to the accuracy of the prediction.

As the season enters its final stretch, the Vaqueros are looking to build on their recent form and make a push for a strong finish. With a record of 15-12, they are still in contention for a top seed in their conference tournament. The Cardinals, on the other hand, are struggling to stay afloat, with a record of 12-15. They must turn their season around quickly if they hope to make a postseason run. The Vaqueros' win over the Cardinals marked their 4th quadrant 4 win of the season, which could be crucial in terms of their tournament resume.

The Vaqueros' win over the Cardinals has real consequences for their tournament resume. With a NET ranking of 140, the Vaqueros are still on the bubble, but their win over the Cardinals, a quadrant 3 opponent, helps to strengthen their case. The Vaqueros now have 4 quadrant 4 wins, which could be crucial in terms of their tournament seeding. The Cardinals, on the other hand, are unlikely to make the tournament, with a NET ranking of 211 and a record of 12-15. The Vaqueros' ability to win games like this, against lower-ranked opponents, matters in terms of their tournament hopes. If they can continue to win games like this, they may be able to play themselves into a higher seed, which could make a significant difference in terms of their tournament chances.

The Vaqueros' strong team performance, combined with their recent form, makes them a team to watch in the coming weeks. With several key games remaining on their schedule, the Vaqueros have the opportunity to make a strong push for a top seed in their conference tournament. The Cardinals, on the other hand, must regroup and refocus if they hope to turn their season around. With just a few games remaining, the Cardinals are running out of time to make a push for the postseason. The Vaqueros' win over the Cardinals marked their 5th win in their last 6 games, and they want to continue their strong form in their next game.

HEADLINE: Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros Hold Off Lamar Cardinals 70-65 Behind Brankovic's 19 Points SUBHEADLINE: The Vaqueros' 15th win of the season keeps them in contention for a top seed in their conference tournament, with a 15-12 record and a NET ranking of 140.