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Brankovic and Cotton split 36 points, UT Rio Grande Valley beats SE Louisiana 96-75
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Brankovic and Cotton split 36 points, UT Rio Grande Valley beats SE Louisiana 96-75

#UT Rio Grande Valley #SE Louisiana #Filip Brankovic #Koree Cotton #Isaiah Gaines #Southland Conference #college basketball #Hammond Louisiana

📌 Key Takeaways

  • UT Rio Grande Valley defeated SE Louisiana 96-75
  • Filip Brankovic and Koree Cotton each scored 18 points
  • Vaqueros led 46-26 at halftime after an 18-2 run
  • Isaiah Gaines led SE Louisiana with 24 points and 7 rebounds
  • UT Rio Grande Valley improved to 16-12 overall and 12-7 in conference play

📖 Full Retelling

Led by Filip Brankovic's 18 points, the UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros defeated the SE Louisiana Lions 96-75 in Hammond, Louisiana on February 21, 2026. The Vaqueros dominated the game with a strong first-half performance, building a 46-26 halftime lead and maintaining their advantage throughout the second half. Brankovic and Koree Cotton combined for 36 points, with Cotton also scoring 18 points, while Marvin McGhee III contributed 17 points for the winning team. Isaiah Gaines led the Lions with 24 points and seven rebounds in the losing effort.

🏷️ Themes

College basketball victory, Team scoring distribution, Conference matchup, Dominant first-half performance, Individual player achievements

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Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

The victory improves UT Rio Grande Valley's record to 16-12 and strengthens their position in the Southland Conference standings. The dominant win showcases the team's offensive firepower as they prepare for the conference tournament.

Context & Background

  • UT Rio Grande Valley entered the game with a 15-12 record
  • SE Louisiana had a struggling 8-19 record before the game
  • The Southland Conference game took place on February 21, 2026

What Happens Next

UT Rio Grande Valley will continue their season with upcoming conference games. Both teams will prepare for the Southland Conference tournament which determines NCAA tournament qualification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who were the top scorers for UT Rio Grande Valley?

Filip Brankovic and Koree Cotton each scored 18 points.

What was the halftime score?

UT Rio Grande Valley led 46-26 at halftime.

How did UT Rio Grande Valley build their lead?

They used an 18-2 run in the first half to expand a one-point lead to 17 points.

Original Source
Brankovic and Cotton split 36 points, UT Rio Grande Valley beats SE Louisiana 96-75 Led by Filip Brankovic's 18 points, the UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros defeated the SE Louisiana Lions 96-75 By The Associated Press February 21, 2026, 7:02 PM HAMMOND, La. -- Filip Brankovic and Koree Cotton split 36 points as UT Rio Grande Valley beat SE Louisiana 96-75 on Saturday. Brankovic shot 6 of 7 from the field, including 2 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 4 from the line for the Vaqueros (16-12, 12-7 Southland Conference) for his 18 points. Koree Cotton scored 18 points while going 6 of 9 (4 for 6 from 3-point range). Marvin McGhee III had 17 points and shot 5 of 11 from the field, including 5 for 8 from 3-point range. Isaiah Gaines led the Lions (8-20, 5-14) in scoring, finishing with 24 points and seven rebounds. SE Louisiana also got 11 points from Peter Hemschemeier. Jeremy Elyzee finished with 10 points. The Vaqueros led 46-26 at the half, using an 18-2 run to expand a one-point lead to 17. The hovered near that 20-point lead for the entire second half. Popular Reads Nancy Guthrie live updates: More than 1 suspect not ruled out, sheriff's office says 2 hours ago Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor released after arrest on suspicion of misconduct Feb 19, 4:23 PM Nancy Guthrie case: Person released as search for 'armed individual' continues Feb 10, 11:15 PM ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar . Sponsored Content by Taboola Popular Reads Nancy Guthrie live updates: More than 1 suspect not ruled out, sheriff's office says 2 hours ago Nancy Guthrie case: Person released as search for 'armed individual' continues Feb 10, 11:15 PM Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor released after arrest on suspicion of misconduct Feb 19, 4:23 PM Trump says he has signed order for new 15% tariff after Supreme Court ruling 3 hours ago ABC News Live 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events
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