Vaqueros Edge Cowboys in Thrilling Finish
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 5:30 PM ET · UTRGV Fieldhouse
UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros 79, McNeese Cowboys 76, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won McNeese Cowboys vs UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros?
UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros beat McNeese Cowboys 79-76 at UTRGV Fieldhouse on January 17, 2026.
In a closely contested matchup, the UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros triumphed over the McNeese Cowboys with a final score of 79-76. The game took place at the UTRGV Fieldhouse, showcasing the resilience of the home team, which had been struggling in recent outings. This victory marks a significant achievement for the Vaqueros, who had a home record of 3-4 prior to this game, while the Cowboys, boasting an away record of 2-2, were on a four-game winning streak.
The Vaqueros entered this game with a mixed recent form, holding a record of 4-6 over their last ten games, but they had lost their last two matches leading up to this fixture. Their average scoring during this stretch was 71.4 points per game, while they allowed an average of 65.8 points. In contrast, the Cowboys had been performing strongly, with an 8-2 record in their last ten games and an impressive scoring average of 79.1 points, allowing 69.8 points per game.
Historically, the Vaqueros faced challenges against the Cowboys, having lost both of their previous meetings in the 2025 season, including a significant defeat at home where they fell 63-93. However, the Vaqueros turned the tables in this matchup, demonstrating their ability to compete at a high level despite their earlier struggles.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide specific details, but both teams were expected to field their best players. The game was anticipated to be a test of depth and strategy, especially for the Vaqueros, who needed to leverage their home-court advantage.
The betting market, as reported by DraftKings, had the Cowboys favored by 9.5 points, with a total set at 146.5. The odds indicated a belief in a competitive game, yet the Vaqueros defied expectations with their performance.
The conditions during the game were conducive to a high-energy contest, with both teams showcasing their offensive capabilities. Key moments included several crucial free throws in the second half, where players like Marvin McGhee III and Javohn Garcia made significant contributions to the scoring. The Vaqueros' ability to execute under pressure in the final moments proved decisive, as they managed to maintain their lead despite the Cowboys' late-game push.
Viewers were treated to a thrilling finish, with the scoring plays highlighting the intensity of the matchup. The Vaqueros' final points came from free throws by Zae Blake, securing their victory and marking a turning point in their season. This game not only showcased the competitive spirit of both teams but also highlighted the unpredictability of college basketball.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MCN -9.5 | 146.5 o -105 / u -115 | McNeese Cowboys — · UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros — |
Leaders
- PointsMarvin McGhee III17UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
- AssistsKoree Cotton7UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
- ReboundsMarvin McGhee III7UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
- PointsTyshawn Archie23McNeese Cowboys
- AssistsGarwey Dual4McNeese Cowboys
- ReboundsJacolb Fredson-Cole10McNeese Cowboys
Recent form
UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
Last 10: 4-6Streak L271.4 scored · 65.8 allowed per game3-4 at home
- L63-64at Northwestern State DemonsJan 13
- L69-77at East Texas A&M LionsJan 10
- W80-67vs Incarnate Word CardinalsJan 6
- L59-63vs Texas A&M-Corpus Christi IslandersJan 3
- L69-71vs Nicholls ColonelsDec 31
- L69-85vs LSU New Orleans PrivateersDec 30
- W109-51vs College of Biblical Studies AmbassadorsDec 20
- W83-72at Lamar CardinalsDec 17
- L50-58vs UT Arlington MavericksDec 12
- W63-50vs Austin Peay GovernorsDec 7
McNeese Cowboys
Last 10: 8-2Streak W479.1 scored · 69.8 allowed per game2-2 away
- W94-68vs Nicholls ColonelsJan 13
- W73-61vs SE Louisiana LionsJan 10
- W66-64vs Stephen F. Austin LumberjacksJan 6
- W82-70vs Lamar CardinalsJan 3
- L71-112at Michigan WolverinesDec 30
- W78-68at Houston Christian HuskiesDec 16
- W102-66vs East Texas A&M LionsDec 13
- W66-64at Rhode Island RamsDec 10
- W92-54vs Northwestern State DemonsDec 6
- L67-71at Incarnate Word CardinalsDec 2
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen F. Austin | 28-6 | - | 20-2 |
| McNeese | 28-6 | 1 | 19-3 |
| UT Rio Grande Valley | 19-14 | 6 | 14-8 |
| Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | 18-15 | 7 | 13-9 |
| LSU New Orleans | 15-18 | 8 | 12-10 |
| Nicholls | 14-19 | 8 | 12-10 |
| Houston Christian | 12-20 | 12 | 8-14 |
| Northwestern State | 10-22 | 12 | 8-14 |
| Incarnate Word | 12-19 | 13 | 7-15 |
| Lamar | 12-19 | 13 | 7-15 |
| East Texas A&M | 11-21 | 14 | 6-16 |
| SE Louisiana | 9-22 | 14 | 6-16 |
Box score
| Stat | McNeese Cowboys | UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 25-63 | 26-48 |
| Field goal % | 40 | 54 |
| Three-pointers | 5-26 | 13-27 |
| Three-point % | 19 | 48 |
| Free throws | 21-24 | 14-18 |
| Free throw % | 88 | 78 |
| Rebounds | 35 | 29 |
| Offensive rebounds | 16 | 6 |
| Defensive rebounds | 19 | 23 |
| Assists | 12 | 20 |
| Steals | 8 | 3 |
| Blocks | 4 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 7 | 13 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 18 | 14 |
| Fast-break points | 11 | 5 |
| Points in the paint | 34 | 20 |
| Fouls | 19 | 15 |
| Largest lead | 2 | 23 |
| Lead changes | 1 | 1 |
| Time in front | 3 | 89 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half35-50Larry Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half35-53Marvin McGhee III makes 22-foot three point jumper (Jaylen Washington assists)
- 2nd Half36-53Larry Johnson makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half37-53Larry Johnson makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half38-53Larry Johnson makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half39-53Larry Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half40-53Larry Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half40-56Jalen Ricks makes 23-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half42-56Garwey Dual makes 8-foot floating jump shot (Larry Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half44-56Yanis Ndjonga makes layup (Tyshawn Archie assists)
- 2nd Half44-59Zae Blake makes 25-foot three point jumper (Always Wright assists)
- 2nd Half46-59Larry Johnson makes 18-foot pullup jump shot (Yanis Ndjonga assists)
- 2nd Half46-62Jalen Ricks makes 23-foot three point jumper (Koree Cotton assists)
- 2nd Half47-62Larry Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-62Larry Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-62Larry Johnson makes driving layup (Tyshawn Archie assists)
- 2nd Half50-65Jaylen Washington makes 24-foot three point jumper (Julien Gomez assists)
- 2nd Half52-65Javohn Garcia makes 11-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half52-67Jalen Ricks makes 7-foot floating jump shot (Jaylen Washington assists)
- 2nd Half55-67Tyshawn Archie makes 23-foot three point jumper (DJ Richards Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half55-69Marvin McGhee III makes 14-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half57-69Jacolb Fredson-Cole makes layup
- 2nd Half60-69Tyshawn Archie makes 26-foot three point jumper (Jerrell Colbert assists)
- 2nd Half60-72Jalen Ricks makes 24-foot three point jumper (Kwo Agwa assists)
- 2nd Half62-72Tyshawn Archie makes layup
- 2nd Half62-73Kwo Agwa makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-73Tyshawn Archie makes driving layup
- 2nd Half67-73Javohn Garcia makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jacolb Fredson-Cole assists)
- 2nd Half67-74Koree Cotton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-75Koree Cotton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-75Tyshawn Archie makes driving layup
- 2nd Half71-75Javohn Garcia makes layup
- 2nd Half72-75Jacolb Fredson-Cole makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-76Marvin McGhee III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-77Marvin McGhee III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-77Javohn Garcia makes driving layup
- 2nd Half75-77Javohn Garcia makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-77Javohn Garcia makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-78Zae Blake makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-79Zae Blake makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros, below favours McNeese Cowboys.
Venue
- UTRGV FieldhouseEdinburg, TX
- Attendance2119
- OfficialsRoss Cullins, Matthew Martinez, Nicholas Walker-Baldwin
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond