NCAAB · Final

Vaqueros Triumph Over Cardinals in NCAAB Clash

Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 7:00 PM ET · Montagne Center

UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros 83, Lamar Cardinals 72, 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 Lamar Cardinals?

UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros beat Lamar Cardinals 83-72 at Montagne Center on December 16, 2025.

Who was favored in UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros vs Lamar Cardinals?

Lamar Cardinals were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -175 (about 64% implied). The underdog won.

In an exciting matchup, the UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros overcame the Lamar Cardinals with a final score of 83-72 at the Montagne Center. This victory marks the Vaqueros' third win in their last five games, while the Cardinals have now lost three consecutive matchups.

The Lamar Cardinals entered the game with a record of 5-5, having struggled recently with a streak of two losses. Their average points scored in the last ten games was 70.2, while they allowed an average of 65.3 points. In their last five games, they had a record of 2-3, scoring an average of 68.6 points and allowing 66.0 points. Their home record stood at 3-2, demonstrating a slightly better performance at home compared to their away record of 2-3.

On the other hand, the UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros had a record of 4-6 before this game, with a recent streak of one loss. They averaged 74.1 points scored and allowed 72.4 points in their last ten games. In their last five games, they recorded only one victory against four losses, averaging 62.6 points scored and 68.4 points allowed. The Vaqueros had a home record of 3-1 but struggled on the road with an away record of 1-5.

Historically, the matchup favored the home team, as the Cardinals had won both previous meetings this season, including a close victory of 70-68 on February 9 and a dominant 84-52 win on December 7. However, the Vaqueros flipped the script in this encounter, showcasing their ability to perform under pressure.

In terms of injuries, no specific players were mentioned in the block, indicating that both teams may have been at full strength for this contest.

The betting market reflected a competitive atmosphere, with DraftKings listing the Cardinals as 3.5-point favorites. The total points set for the game was 139.5, with both the over and under priced at -110. The moneyline odds indicated the Cardinals at -175 and the Vaqueros at +145, suggesting a belief in a closer contest than the odds implied.

The game conditions were not detailed in the block, but the Montagne Center typically provides a home-court advantage for the Cardinals. Fans in attendance witnessed a high-energy game, with key moments that shifted momentum.

In the second half, the Vaqueros pulled away with significant plays, including a 22-foot three-point jumper from Andrew Holifield, assisted by Cody Pennebaker, which put the score at 77-68. Always Wright then followed up with a dunk, extending the lead to 79-68. The Cardinals attempted to rally, but the Vaqueros maintained their composure, closing out the game with free throws from Wright and Zae Blake.

The final score of 83-72 highlighted the Vaqueros' offensive prowess and defensive resilience, allowing them to secure an important victory in the NCAAB season.

Odds

Book	Spread	Total	Moneyline
DraftKings	LAM -3.5	139.5 o -110 / u -110	UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros +145 · Lamar Cardinals -175

What these prices pay on $100 · What these numbers mean

Leaders

PointsAndrew Holifield24Lamar Cardinals
AssistsCody Pennebaker5Lamar Cardinals
ReboundsCody Pennebaker8Lamar Cardinals
PointsFilip Brankovic18UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
AssistsFilip Brankovic4UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
ReboundsKoree Cotton9UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros

Recent form

Lamar Cardinals

Last 10: 5-5Streak L270.2 scored · 65.3 allowed per game3-2 at home

L71-89at San Diego State AztecsDec 11
L49-57vs Texas A&M-Corpus Christi IslandersDec 7
W65-55vs Louisiana Ragin' CajunsDec 4
W90-46vs Our Lady of the Lake SaintsNov 30
L68-83vs Oakland Golden GrizzliesNov 24
W68-63at Montana GrizzliesNov 23
W79-66at UL Monroe WarhawksNov 18
L65-78at TCU Horned FrogsNov 11
W93-53vs Texas A&M-San Antonio JaguarsNov 3
L54-63at McNeese CowboysMar 12

UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros

Last 10: 4-6Streak L174.1 scored · 72.4 allowed per game1-5 away

L50-58vs UT Arlington MavericksDec 12
W63-50vs Austin Peay GovernorsDec 7
L60-73at Stephen F. Austin LumberjacksDec 4
L73-87at Illinois Fighting IlliniNov 25
L67-74at Missouri State BearsNov 22
W110-53vs Southwestern Adventist KnightsNov 18
L65-85at Boise State BroncosNov 12
W95-72at Southern Utah ThunderbirdsNov 9
L81-96at Baylor BearsNov 4
W77-76vs SE Louisiana LionsMar 4

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	Lamar Cardinals
Field goals	30-58	24-59
Field goal %	52	41
Three-pointers	14-25	9-28
Three-point %	56	32
Free throws	9-13	15-21
Free throw %	69	71
Rebounds	35	36
Offensive rebounds	6	11
Defensive rebounds	29	25
Assists	15	16
Steals	6	7
Blocks	1	4
Turnovers	11	13
Team turnovers	0	0
Technical fouls	0	0
Technical fouls, total	0	0
Flagrant fouls	0	0
Points off turnovers	7	15
Fast-break points	10	22
Points in the paint	26	18
Fouls	17	16
Largest lead	21	0
Lead changes	0	0
Time in front	98	0

How the scoring went

1st Half44-29Andrew Holifield makes free throw 1 of 2
1st Half44-30Andrew Holifield makes free throw 2 of 2
1st Half46-30Jaylen Washington makes layup
1st Half46-31Andrew Holifield makes free throw 1 of 2
1st Half46-32Andrew Holifield makes free throw 2 of 2
1st Half46-34Andrew Holifield makes 1-foot dunk
1st Half49-34Julien Gomez makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jaylen Washington assists)
2nd Half52-34Marvin McGhee III makes 25-foot three point jumper (Zae Blake assists)
2nd Half52-36Andrew Holifield makes 17-foot jumper (Cody Pennebaker assists)
2nd Half54-36Filip Brankovic makes layup
2nd Half54-38Andrew Holifield makes layup (Eian Lowe assists)
2nd Half56-38Filip Brankovic makes layup (Always Wright assists)
2nd Half56-40Errol White makes layup
2nd Half58-40Always Wright makes 20-foot jumper
2nd Half61-40Kwo Agwa makes 25-foot three point jumper (Marvin McGhee III assists)
2nd Half61-43King-Njhsanni Wilhite makes 24-foot three point jumper (Cody Pennebaker assists)
2nd Half64-43Marvin McGhee III makes 23-foot three point jumper
2nd Half64-46Andrew Holifield makes 24-foot three point jumper (King-Njhsanni Wilhite assists)
2nd Half64-49Jayden Gambrell makes 23-foot three point jumper (Cody Pennebaker assists)
2nd Half64-52Andrew Holifield makes 23-foot three point jumper (Janko Bulajic assists)
2nd Half64-54Andrew Holifield makes layup (Jayden Gambrell assists)
2nd Half64-55Andrew Holifield makes free throw 1 of 1
2nd Half66-55Filip Brankovic makes layup
2nd Half69-55Marvin McGhee III makes 23-foot three point jumper (Filip Brankovic assists)
2nd Half69-57Cody Pennebaker makes 5-foot hook shot
2nd Half69-60Cody Pennebaker makes 23-foot three point jumper (King-Njhsanni Wilhite assists)
2nd Half70-60Always Wright makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half72-60Filip Brankovic makes 13-foot jumper
2nd Half72-62Cody Pennebaker makes 19-foot jumper (Eian Lowe assists)
2nd Half72-65Cody Pennebaker makes 23-foot three point jumper (Eian Lowe assists)
2nd Half75-65Marvin McGhee III makes 23-foot three point jumper
2nd Half77-65Koree Cotton makes layup (Always Wright assists)
2nd Half77-68Andrew Holifield makes 22-foot three point jumper (Cody Pennebaker assists)
2nd Half79-68Always Wright makes 2-foot dunk (Filip Brankovic assists)
2nd Half79-70Cody Pennebaker makes 15-foot jumper (Andrew Holifield assists)
2nd Half80-70Koree Cotton makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half81-70Zae Blake makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half81-72Cody Pennebaker makes layup
2nd Half82-72Always Wright makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half83-72Always Wright makes free throw 2 of 2

Win probability

Above the line favours Lamar Cardinals, below favours UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros.