UTRGV faces tough test vs No. 7 Texas

Published Dec. 2, 2021 6:31 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Texas Rio Grande Valley (4-4) vs. No. 7 Texas (5-1)

Frank Erwin Special Events Center, Austin, Texas; Friday, 8:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: No. 7 Texas presents a tough challenge for Texas Rio Grande Valley. Texas Rio Grande Valley has played a ranked team only once this season and lost. Texas is coming off a 73-57 win over Sam Houston on Monday.

SUPER SENIORS: Texas Rio Grande Valley's Ricky Nelson, Marek Nelson and Mike Adewunmi have combined to score 42 percent of the team's points this season and have accounted for 56 percent of all Vaqueros scoring over the last five games.

KEY CONTRIBUTOR: Justin Johnson has either made or assisted on 43 percent of all Texas Rio Grande Valley field goals over the last three games. Johnson has accounted for 25 field goals and 10 assists in those games.

STREAK SCORING: Texas has won its last five home games, scoring an average of 74.8 points while giving up 48.6.

ACCOUNTING FOR ASSISTS: The Longhorns have recently used assists to create buckets more often than the Vaqueros. Texas has 46 assists on 76 field goals (60.5 percent) over its past three games while Texas Rio Grande Valley has assists on 34 of 82 field goals (41.5 percent) during its past three games.

GETTING DEFENSIVE: The tough Texas defense has held opponents to 54.8 points per game, the fifth-lowest mark in Division I. Texas Rio Grande Valley has given up an average of 80.5 points through eight games (ranking the Vaqueros 233rd).

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