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 Interstat’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.