COMMERCE, Texas (Interstat) — In a Southland Conference clash defined by runs and resilience, the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions held off a persistent Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros squad for a 77-69 victory on Saturday night at the Texas A&M-Commerce Field House.

A crowd of 372 saw the Lions improve to 7-10 overall, while the Vaqueros fell to 6-10. The game played out as a tale of two halves, with Commerce building a commanding early lead only to withstand a furious UTRGV rally that brought the visitors within a single possession in the final minutes.

The Lions seized control from the opening tip, leveraging a balanced offensive attack and disruptive defense. A 15-2 run midway through the first half, punctuated by three-pointers from Gianni Hunt and Ronnie Harrison, stretched an early lead to 15-5. Commerce’s ball movement was exceptional, with Hunt orchestrating the offense and finding teammates for open looks. The Lions shot efficiently in the opening period, building a 42-33 halftime advantage. Hunt was the catalyst, finishing the night with 13 points and 10 assists for a double-double.

UTRGV, which had entered the game with a slight edge in pre-game statistical projections, struggled to find consistency early. The Vaqueros were plagued by turnovers and could not contain Commerce’s inside-out game, led by Noah Pagotto’s activity on both ends. The Lions’ nine-point halftime lead felt larger given the flow of the game.

However, the second half revealed the Vaqueros’ fighting spirit. They began to chip away at the deficit, fueled by the interior presence of Filip Brankovic and timely outside shooting. A 9-2 spurt by UTRGV, capped by a Julien Gomez three-pointer, cut the Lions’ lead to 60-57 with just over nine minutes remaining, transforming the contest into a tense, possession-by-possession battle.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final three minutes. With Commerce clinging to a 68-66 lead, the Vaqueros had multiple opportunities to tie or take the lead but came up empty on consecutive possessions. A missed three-pointer was followed by a turnover, allowing the Lions to regain their composure.

Commerce’s response was decisive. Ronnie Harrison, who provided a crucial 10 points, drilled a clutch three-pointer off an assist from Hunt with 2:14 left to push the lead back to five at 71-66. After a UTRGV miss, the Lions worked the clock and earned free throws, with Damian Garcia and Hunt converting at the line to seal the outcome. UTRGV was forced to foul in the closing seconds, and Pagotto iced the game with two final free throws to reach his team-high 12 points.

While Commerce’s backcourt of Hunt and Harrison managed the late-game pressure, the Lions received key contributions across the roster. Pagotto’s 12 points and four assists were vital, as was Garcia’s 12 points. The Lions’ ability to share the ball, evidenced by 21 assists on 29 made field goals, proved to be the difference against a UTRGV team that fought to the final buzze.

For the Vaqueros, Brankovic was a force inside, leading all scorers and rebounders, though specific totals were not immediately available. Marvin McGhee provided perimeter scoring, but UTRGV’s early deficit and 15 turnovers ultimately proved too much to overcome.

Both teams return to conference play quickly. Texas A&M-Commerce hosts Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Monday, looking to build a winning streak. Texas-Rio Grande Valley travels to face Northwestern State, also on Monday, aiming to bounce back from the narrow road defeat.