Vaqueros Overcome Cardinals in High-Scoring Affair
Saturday, January 31, 2026, 5:00 PM ET · McDermott Center
UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros 106, Incarnate Word Cardinals 93, 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 UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros vs Incarnate Word Cardinals?
UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros beat Incarnate Word Cardinals 106-93 at McDermott Center on January 31, 2026.
Who was favored in UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros vs Incarnate Word Cardinals?
Incarnate Word Cardinals were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -115 (about 53% implied). The underdog won.
In a thrilling matchup, the UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros triumphed over the Incarnate Word Cardinals with a final score of 106 to 93. This game showcased the Vaqueros' offensive prowess, as they extended their winning streak to four games while the Cardinals faced their fourth consecutive loss. The contest took place at the McDermott Center on January 31, 2026, and was marked by high-scoring plays and a fast-paced rhythm.
The Vaqueros entered the game with a balanced record of 11-11, having recently found their form with a record of 5-5 over their last ten games, including an impressive average of 68.8 points scored per game. Their defense has also tightened up, allowing an average of 67.4 points during that stretch. In contrast, the Cardinals struggled with a record of 9-13 and had a less favorable recent form of 4-6 in their last ten games, averaging 68.6 points scored but allowing 70.5 points. The Cardinals' recent performances included a streak of three consecutive losses, leading to concerns about their ability to compete effectively.
The home team's struggles were evident in their recent games, where they had a home record of 4-2 but were 0-4 in their last four away games. Their last five games had seen them average only 65.2 points while allowing 74.0, a stark contrast to the Vaqueros' recent success. The Vaqueros, on the other hand, had a more balanced approach, with a recent away record of 2-2 and an average of 68.4 points scored while allowing just 62.2 points in their last five games.
In terms of their head-to-head history, the Cardinals had a record of 1-2 against the Vaqueros in their last three meetings. Their most recent encounter prior to this game was on January 6, 2026, where the Vaqueros won decisively with a score of 80-67. The previous season saw the Cardinals win one game against the Vaqueros, but the overall trend indicated that the Vaqueros had the upper hand in this matchup.
Injury concerns were not detailed in the block, but the performance of both teams was crucial for their respective standings. The betting market favored the Vaqueros with a spread of -1.5, as reported by DraftKings, indicating that they were expected to win by a narrow margin. The total points line was set at 140.5, reflecting the anticipation of a high-scoring game, which indeed materialized.
The game conditions were ripe for an offensive showcase, and both teams delivered. The Vaqueros' scoring was highlighted by several key plays, including a driving layup by Tahj Staveskie that helped push their lead to 100-86 in the second half. The Cardinals fought hard, but their defensive lapses allowed the Vaqueros to maintain their advantage. The final moments saw the Vaqueros extend their lead further, with Harrison Reede and Kwo Agwa contributing critical points to seal the victory.
Overall, this game served as a significant indicator of the Vaqueros' rising form and the Cardinals' ongoing struggles. As the season progresses, both teams will look to build on this performance, with the Vaqueros aiming to continue their winning streak and the Cardinals seeking to break free from their losing run.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | RGV -1.5 | 140.5 o -115 / u -105 | UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros -105 · Incarnate Word Cardinals -115 |
Leaders
- PointsJordan Pyke33Incarnate Word Cardinals
- AssistsTahj Staveskie7Incarnate Word Cardinals
- ReboundsHarold Woods12Incarnate Word Cardinals
- PointsKoree Cotton21UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
- AssistsJaylen Washington6UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
- ReboundsFilip Brankovic5UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
Recent form
Incarnate Word Cardinals
Last 10: 4-6Streak L368.6 scored · 70.5 allowed per game4-2 at home
- L75-81at Houston Christian HuskiesJan 28
- L71-79vs Texas A&M-Corpus Christi IslandersJan 24
- L58-80vs East Texas A&M LionsJan 19
- W76-74vs Northwestern State DemonsJan 17
- L46-56at Stephen F. Austin LumberjacksJan 13
- L51-63at Lamar CardinalsJan 11
- L67-80at UT Rio Grande Valley VaquerosJan 6
- W73-56vs Houston Christian HuskiesJan 3
- W79-70vs SE Louisiana LionsDec 30
- W90-66vs Northern Arizona LumberjacksDec 21
UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
Last 10: 5-5Streak W468.8 scored · 67.4 allowed per game2-2 away
- W64-55at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi IslandersJan 27
- W68-51at Houston Christian HuskiesJan 24
- W68-65vs SE Louisiana LionsJan 20
- W79-76vs McNeese CowboysJan 17
- 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
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 | UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros | Incarnate Word Cardinals |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 38-61 | 33-59 |
| Field goal % | 62 | 56 |
| Three-pointers | 12-25 | 10-22 |
| Three-point % | 48 | 45 |
| Free throws | 18-22 | 17-22 |
| Free throw % | 82 | 77 |
| Rebounds | 23 | 31 |
| Offensive rebounds | 6 | 11 |
| Defensive rebounds | 17 | 20 |
| Assists | 17 | 14 |
| Steals | 7 | 1 |
| Blocks | 3 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 6 | 14 |
| Team turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 16 | 6 |
| Fast-break points | 17 | 14 |
| Points in the paint | 44 | 38 |
| Fouls | 17 | 20 |
| Largest lead | 24 | 5 |
| Lead changes | 8 | 8 |
| Time in front | 77 | 13 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half71-55Koree Cotton makes layup (Jaylen Washington assists)
- 2nd Half71-58Jordan Pyke makes 28-foot three point jumper (Harold Woods assists)
- 2nd Half74-58Filip Brankovic makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jaylen Washington assists)
- 2nd Half75-58Filip Brankovic makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-58Filip Brankovic makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-60Tahj Staveskie makes 17-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half78-60Koree Cotton makes driving layup
- 2nd Half78-61Davion Bailey makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-62Davion Bailey makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half79-62Filip Brankovic makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half80-62Filip Brankovic makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half82-62Always Wright makes 18-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half82-64Amani Drummond makes 13-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half85-64Zae Blake makes 25-foot three pointer (Always Wright assists)
- 2nd Half85-67Tahj Staveskie makes 29-foot three point jumper (Harold Woods assists)
- 2nd Half87-67Filip Brankovic makes driving layup
- 2nd Half88-67Filip Brankovic makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half91-67Zae Blake makes 24-foot three point jumper (Koree Cotton assists)
- 2nd Half91-69Harold Woods makes driving layup
- 2nd Half92-69Filip Brankovic makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half92-72Tahj Staveskie makes 26-foot three point jumper (Davion Bailey assists)
- 2nd Half92-75Tahj Staveskie makes 29-foot three point jumper (Jordan Pyke assists)
- 2nd Half92-77Tahj Staveskie makes driving layup
- 2nd Half94-77Marvin McGhee III makes driving layup
- 2nd Half94-79Marcus Glover makes layup
- 2nd Half95-79Julien Gomez makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half96-79Julien Gomez makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half96-80Jordan Pyke makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half96-81Jordan Pyke makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half98-81Koree Cotton makes 14-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half98-84Jordan Pyke makes 27-foot three point jumper (Marcus Glover assists)
- 2nd Half100-84Filip Brankovic makes layup (Julien Gomez assists)
- 2nd Half100-86Tahj Staveskie makes driving layup
- 2nd Half100-87Tahj Staveskie makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half102-87Jaylen Washington makes 3-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half102-90Harrison Reede makes 24-foot three point jumper (Tahj Staveskie assists)
- 2nd Half103-90Marvin McGhee III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half104-90Marvin McGhee III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half104-93Harrison Reede makes 25-foot three point jumper (Lewis Rowe assists)
- 2nd Half106-93Kwo Agwa makes layup (Julien Gomez assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Incarnate Word Cardinals, below favours UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros.
Venue
- McDermott CenterSan Antonio, TX
- Attendance234
- OfficialsGrady Dale, Matthew Martinez, RJ Johnson
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