EDINBURG, Texas (Interstat) — A dominant second-half surge propelled the Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros to a 63-55 victory over the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions in a Southland Conference men’s basketball game Saturday night at UT Pan Am Field House.

The Vaqueros, who trailed by 10 points at halftime, outscored the Lions 39-21 after intermission to secure the win in front of 1,723 fans. The victory improved Texas-Rio Grande Valley to 17-13 overall, while Texas A&M-Commerce fell to 11-20.

The game’s decisive stretch came early in the second half, where the Vaqueros erased their deficit with a blistering 19-4 run over the first six minutes. The Lions, who had controlled the first half behind the hot shooting of Noah Pagotto, went ice cold, managing just two field goals during the Vaqueros’ onslaught.

Julien Gomez ignited the run for the home team, scoring seven quick points, including a three-point play and a 3-pointer. Koree Cotton added five points during the spurt, which was capped by a Filip Brankovic layup that gave the Vaqueros a 38-33 lead with 16:56 remaining. Texas A&M-Commerce never recovered, as their offensive struggles persisted. The Lions shot just 21.4% from the field in the second half, missing 22 of their 28 attempts.

The first half belonged entirely to the visiting Lions and Pagotto. The 6-foot-8 junior from Wollongong, Australia, scored 16 of his game-high 18 points before halftime, showcasing a versatile array of hook shots, floaters and 3-pointers. His early flurry, which included three consecutive baskets to open the game, helped Texas A&M-Commerce build a 34-24 lead at the break. The Lions’ defense was equally stifling in the opening period, forcing nine Vaqueros turnovers and holding them to 32% shooting.

Pagotto finished with 18 points and seven rebounds in 35 minutes. Gianni Hunt added 10 points and a game-high six assists for the Lions, while Ronnie Harrison also chipped in 10 points.

The Vaqueros, however, showcased a balanced and efficient attack after halftime. Gomez led the way with 14 points, while Brankovic recorded a strong all-around performance with 13 points, four assists and nine rebounds. Cotton filled the stat sheet with 12 points, three assists and three blocks, and Jaylen Washington contributed 10 points and four assists.

Texas-Rio Grande Valley’s offensive execution in the second half was markedly cleaner, committing only two turnovers while shooting 48% from the floor. Their defensive intensity also ramped up, holding the Lions to a season-worst offensive rating of 91.6 points per 100 possessions for the game. Texas A&M-Commerce finished the night shooting 32.7% overall and 21.4% from beyond the arc.

The win avenged a 77-69 home loss to the Lions back on Jan. 10 and provided a positive momentum shift for the Vaqueros as they head into their final regular-season contest. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Texas-Rio Grande Valley entered the game with a 90.70 percent probability to win.

Texas A&M-Commerce, which has lost three of its last four games, continues to search for consistency away from home. The Lions will look to regroup quickly as they face a short turnaround before their next conference matchup.

UP NEXT

Texas-Rio Grande Valley: Hosts Northwestern State on Monday. Texas A&M-Commerce: Visits Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Monday.