BEAUMONT, Texas - Sabria Dean's go-ahead bucket with under 30 seconds to go was overshadowed by UT Rio Grande Valley's (12-13, 7-7 SLC) game-winning three pointer to defeat Lamar University (15-7, 10-3 SLC), 58-56, Saturday at the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center. The loss ends LU's 16-game home court win streak.
Dean led the Cardinals by pouring in 23 points on 10-of-21 shooting from the field. R'Mani Taylor recorded 12 points including two three-pointers while adding four assists. Jacei Denley led the Cardinals with five assists while Akasha Davis totaled seven points and seven rebounds.
The Cardinals converted 41 percent of their field goals, but were outrebounded, 41-26. Big Red came up with 16 points off 22 UTRGV turnovers and controlled the paint with 34 points.
Each team started the game trading buckets to make the score tied at five. The Vaqueros would then go on a 7-2 run to go up 12-7 lead. Dean and Denley got the Cardinals within 13-11 to close the first quarter. LU finished with 38.5 percent from the field.
Dean ignited a quick 6-0 run for the Cardinals to give them a 17-13 lead at the start of the second quarter. For the rest of the half, it was all UTRGV who had command as it went on an 18-6 run to lead 31-23 at the break. The Vaqueros would hit four of their eight field goal attempts and all eight free throws while LU managed 33.3 percent in the quarter.
UTRGV reached its first double-digit lead at 36-25 early in the third quarter. The Cardinals answered back with a 10-2 surge as Dean tallied eight points to get LU back within three, 38-35. Eight consecutive Vaquero points made it an 11-point lead before R'Mani Taylor scored to put LU's deficit at 46-37.
With 7:05 to go in the game, the Vaqueros' lead was 50-40. All of a sudden, the Cardinals would rally to close the margin to 52-51 with under two minutes to go. UTRGV connected on a three-pointer to increase its lead to four before Davis answered with a three-point play with 47 seconds left. After a Vaquero turnover, the Cardinals gave the ball to their leading scorer and Dean delivered with the go-ahead basket with 29 seconds left for a 56-55 lead. UTRGV's first chance to win came off, but it got the rebound and capitalized with a three-pointer to be up 58-56 with five seconds left. The Cardinals had one last chance to tie, but the three-point shot wouldn't fall.
Lamar will look to get back in the win column as it hits the road for a four-game stretch over the next two weeks beginning Thursday at 6:30 p.m. That's when the Cardinals will travel to Natchitoches, La., to take on Northwestern State at the Prather Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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