Vaqueros Defeat Colonels 86-68 in NCAAB Showdown
Monday, March 9, 2026, 8:50 PM ET · Townsley Law Arena
UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros 86, Nicholls Colonels 68, 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 Nicholls Colonels vs UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros?
UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros beat Nicholls Colonels 86-68 at Townsley Law Arena on March 9, 2026.
Who was favored in Nicholls Colonels vs UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros?
UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -258 (about 72% implied). The favorite won.
The UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros secured a decisive 86-68 victory over the Nicholls Colonels at the Townsley Law Arena. This matchup was particularly noteworthy as the Vaqueros have been in strong form, finishing the season with a home record of 19-13, while the Colonels ended at 14-19. The victory allowed the Vaqueros to extend their winning streak to three games, showcasing their offensive prowess and solid defensive play throughout the contest.
In their last ten games, the Vaqueros posted an impressive record of 8-2, averaging 79.5 points scored per game while allowing 69.6 points. Their recent performances include wins against teams like the Northwestern State Demons and East Texas A&M Lions, indicating a strong finish to the season. At home, they have thrived, with a record of 4-1 in their last five games, averaging 74.2 points scored and 66.4 points allowed. Conversely, the Colonels have had a more inconsistent run, finishing their last ten games at 5-5, with an average of 69.3 points scored and 70.3 points allowed. They recently secured a win against the Northwestern State Demons but have struggled against other opponents, including a loss to the McNeese Cowboys.
The Vaqueros had previously faced the Colonels on February 10, 2026, where they also emerged victorious with a score of 92-72. Historically, the Vaqueros have a record of 1-3 against the Colonels over the last two seasons, but their recent performance suggests they have turned the tide in this rivalry.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide any specific details about player absences affecting either team, which suggests that both sides were likely at full strength for this crucial matchup.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had the Vaqueros favored by 5.5 points, with a total set at 143.5. The moneyline reflected a strong belief in the Vaqueros' chances, with -258 for the home team and +210 for the Colonels. This indicates that the Vaqueros were seen as the clear favorites heading into the game.
The conditions during the game were not specified, but the atmosphere at the Townsley Law Arena was likely electric, given the stakes of the matchup and the Vaqueros' strong home record.
Key moments in the game included several scoring plays in the second half that helped solidify the Vaqueros' lead. Trae English made a free throw, and Jalik Dunkley contributed with a layup assisted by Grant Sanders. Marvin McGhee III also made a notable 16-foot jumper, while Koree Cotton capped off the scoring with a long three-pointer, bringing the final tally to 86 points for the Vaqueros.
Overall, the game showcased the Vaqueros' offensive capabilities and their ability to perform under pressure, especially at home. Fans and analysts alike will be keen to see how both teams carry this momentum into their next games.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | RGV -5.5 | 143.5 o -110 / u -110 | Nicholls Colonels +210 · UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros -258 |
Leaders
- PointsFilip Brankovic21UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
- AssistsKoree Cotton5UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
- ReboundsKwo Agwa6UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
- PointsTrae English17Nicholls Colonels
- AssistsGrant Sanders5Nicholls Colonels
- ReboundsGrant Sanders12Nicholls Colonels
Recent form
UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
Last 10: 8-2Streak W279.5 scored · 69.6 allowed per game4-1 at home
- W74-62vs Northwestern State DemonsMar 3
- W63-55vs East Texas A&M LionsFeb 28
- L68-75at McNeese CowboysFeb 24
- W96-75at SE Louisiana LionsFeb 21
- W70-65vs Lamar CardinalsFeb 17
- L57-66vs Stephen F. Austin LumberjacksFeb 14
- W92-72at Nicholls ColonelsFeb 10
- W95-76at LSU New Orleans PrivateersFeb 7
- W74-57vs Houston Christian HuskiesFeb 3
- W106-93at Incarnate Word CardinalsJan 31
Nicholls Colonels
Last 10: 5-5Streak W169.3 scored · 70.3 allowed per game3-2 away
- W61-47vs Northwestern State DemonsMar 9
- L65-75vs McNeese CowboysMar 3
- W68-60vs SE Louisiana LionsFeb 28
- W53-52at Lamar CardinalsFeb 24
- L78-81at Stephen F. Austin LumberjacksFeb 21
- L68-72at Houston Christian HuskiesFeb 17
- W91-83at Incarnate Word CardinalsFeb 14
- L72-92vs UT Rio Grande Valley VaquerosFeb 10
- L76-83vs Texas A&M-Corpus Christi IslandersFeb 7
- W61-58at Northwestern State DemonsFeb 3
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 | Nicholls Colonels | UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 24-55 | 31-53 |
| Field goal % | 44 | 58 |
| Three-pointers | 5-20 | 12-24 |
| Three-point % | 25 | 50 |
| Free throws | 15-17 | 12-12 |
| Free throw % | 88 | 100 |
| Rebounds | 27 | 27 |
| Offensive rebounds | 10 | 5 |
| Defensive rebounds | 17 | 22 |
| Assists | 11 | 20 |
| Steals | 8 | 6 |
| Blocks | 2 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 14 | 13 |
| Team turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 1 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 12 | 19 |
| Fast-break points | 14 | 11 |
| Points in the paint | 32 | 36 |
| Fouls | 15 | 16 |
| Largest lead | 2 | 25 |
| Lead changes | 3 | 3 |
| Time in front | 1 | 98 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half34-44Trae English makes layup
- 2nd Half36-44Jalik Dunkley makes 1-foot jumper
- 2nd Half36-47Koree Cotton makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half36-50Marvin McGhee III makes 23-foot three point jumper (Koree Cotton assists)
- 2nd Half38-50Trae English makes layup
- 2nd Half38-53Koree Cotton makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half38-55Dane Christensen makes layup (Kwo Agwa assists)
- 2nd Half39-55Jalin Rice makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half40-55Jalin Rice makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half40-58Jaylen Washington makes 23-foot three point jumper (Filip Brankovic assists)
- 2nd Half41-58Trae English makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half42-58Trae English makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half42-60Filip Brankovic makes layup
- 2nd Half42-63Demarris Winters makes 24-foot three point jumper (Always Wright assists)
- 2nd Half42-65Jaylen Washington makes driving layup
- 2nd Half42-67Filip Brankovic makes layup (Jaylen Washington assists)
- 2nd Half44-67Jalin Rice makes 12-foot jumper
- 2nd Half47-67Christian Winborne makes 22-foot three point jumper (Grant Sanders assists)
- 2nd Half49-67Trae English makes driving layup
- 2nd Half49-69Filip Brankovic makes driving layup
- 2nd Half49-71Julien Gomez makes driving layup (Filip Brankovic assists)
- 2nd Half49-73Koree Cotton makes layup (Julien Gomez assists)
- 2nd Half51-73Trae English makes driving layup
- 2nd Half52-73Trae English makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half52-75Filip Brankovic makes layup (Dane Christensen assists)
- 2nd Half55-75Jalin Rice makes 24-foot three point jumper (Trae English assists)
- 2nd Half55-77Julien Gomez makes layup (Always Wright assists)
- 2nd Half57-77Sincere Malone makes 6-foot jumper
- 2nd Half57-79Julien Gomez makes 9-foot jumper (Marvin McGhee III assists)
- 2nd Half58-79Sincere Malone makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-79Sincere Malone makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-79Trae English makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-79Trae English makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-79Jalik Dunkley makes layup (Grant Sanders assists)
- 2nd Half63-81Marvin McGhee III makes 16-foot jumper
- 2nd Half65-81Jalik Dunkley makes driving layup (Nick Krass assists)
- 2nd Half68-81Christian Winborne makes 24-foot three point jumper (Grant Sanders assists)
- 2nd Half68-82Filip Brankovic makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-83Filip Brankovic makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-86Koree Cotton makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jaylen Washington assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros, below favours Nicholls Colonels.
Venue
- Townsley Law ArenaLake Charles, LA
- OfficialsRodrick Dixon, Shaun Seales, Garrett Theriot
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