CHICAGO – The Chicago men's basketball team played an excellent first half but couldn't overcome second half adjustments by UT- Rio Grande Valley, dropping a 75-64 contest at the Jones Convocation Center on Saturday afternoon. For the second consecutive game,
Andrew Lewis (Milwaukee, Wis./Milwaukee Vincent H.S.) led the way with a team-best 22 points while
Carlo Marble (/West Des Moines Valley) added six boards.
Xavier Johnson (Dallas, Texas/Hopkins H.S.) and
Rajeir Jones were also in double figures with 13 and 11 points, respectively.
The first half was a chess match between the two teams and it was the Cougars who jumped out to an early 8-2 lead behind buckets from Lewis and Johnson. That lead became a game-best 10-point lead for the home team at the 11:26 mark courtesy of an old fashioned three-point play from Lewis and a trey from Johnson.
The Cougars capitalized on UT-Rio Grande Valley miscues in the first half scoring seven points, including during a crucial stretch before the break which saw the home team take a 24-13 lead at the break. UT-Rio Grande Valley picked up some momentum late in the half, cutting the lead to single digits buckets from Sean Rhea, Lesley Varner II and Javon Levi but the Cougars still took a 10-point lead, 31-21, at the intermission.
The visitors made some adjustments in the locker room and opened the second half with some momentum. The teams traded triples to open the half but a 18-9 run by UTRGV gave them their first lead of the game, 42-40, at the 12:36 mark. The visitors held Chicago State scoreless for 2:36 an took a 14-point lead midway through the half.
Chicago State wouldn't go quietly and a pair of free throws from
Amir Gholizadeh (Toronto, Ontario, Canada/Toronto Basketball Academy) got the lead back to single digits but that was as close as the Cougars would get the rest of the way. UT- Rio Grande Valley shot a blistering 66.7 percent in the second half and was 7-of-8 from long range while scoring 16 points of Chicago State turnovers.
Up Next
The Cougars will hit the road for their next two games. Traveling to take on Cal State – Bakersfield and Grand Canyon. Chicago State will start the trip against the Roadrunners on Thursday night.
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