RIO GRANDE VALLEY – Junior Hasan Abdul-Hakim hit a game-winning jumper with one second left in overtime to send The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men’s basketball team to an 81-80 victory over the Seattle U Redhawks on Thursday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
The Redhawks (10-6, 3-2 WAC) led 64-63 with 4:23 remaining in regulation. Senior Ahren Freeman gave the Vaqueros leads of 65-64 with a layup and 67-66 with free throws. The Redhawks led 70-68 in the closing minute when Freeman hit a game-tying layup. The Redhawks had the ball with 2.8 seconds remaining, but Freeman stole the inbound pass, sending the game to overtime.
The Redhawks led by as much as four twice in overtime, including 79-75 with 2:12 remaining. The Redhawks still led 80-77 with 1:13 to go, but junior Elijah Elliott made a floater to make it a one-point game. The Vaqueros got a stop, setting up Abdul-Hakim’s game-winner.
Freeman led the Vaqueros (5-11, 1-4 WAC) with his second double-double of the season, scoring 22 points with 10 rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Abdul-Hakim scored 15 points with four rebounds and four assists. Freshman J.J. Howard scored14 points. Senior Daylen Williams scored 12 points with five rebounds. Elliott scored 10 points.
Alex Schumacher led the Redhawks (10-6, 3-2 WAC) with 25 points, four rebounds, six assists and two steals. Kobe Williamson scored 16 points with eight rebounds and two steals. John Christofilis scored 11 points with four rebounds.
After the Redhawks scored the opening bucket, Elliott hit a 3-pointer as the Vaqueros made 3-straight shots to score eight-straight points. One basket later, Abdul-Hakim used a layup and a 3-pointer to start a 7-0 run to put the Vaqueros up 15-4.
The Vaqueros pushed their lead to 12 at 18-6 on a Freeman 3-point play, 20-8 on a Williams jumper, and 23-11 on an Abdul-Hakim jumper.
The Vaqueros led 32-21 when the Redhawks went on a 10-2 run to pull within four.
A Howard 3-pointer pushed the Vaqueros’ lead to 37-31 before the Redhawks hit the final two baskets of the half to make the score 37-35.
The lead fluctuated back and forth over the first 10 and a half minutes of the second half. Then, with the Vaqueros down one, Freeman hit a free throw and two layups to power a 7-0 run and put the Vaqueros up 63-57.
UTRGV hosts Utah Valley on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at the UTRGV Fieldhouse. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at GoUTRGV.com/Tickets. Current UTRGV students receive free general admission with their student ID. All fans need to follow the clear bag policy, details of which can be found at GoUTRGV.com/ClearBag. The party starts in Schlotzsky’s Vaquero Village at 5 p.m.
Fans unable to attend in person can watch domestically on ESPN+ or internationally via WAC International.
